Easter Sunday 23-03-08
“So What”
Introduction
“Christ is risen”…..today we celebrate this wonderful event that took place some 2000 years ago. The question I want to address is “So what?” All sorts of events happened long ago but I doubt if any of them have had the same kind of continuing impact as the resurrection of Jesus from the dead. One could argue that the entire western civilisation was spawned by this event – art, medicine, laws, family life, education – all have been moulded by Christian faith which would never have happened if Christ had not been raised from the dead. However I want to make this “So what” question more personal, what does it mean to you and me. What difference does the resurrection of Jesus from the dead make in my life here and now?
Looking at today’s Bible readings we see firstly from John 20:1-18 an account of the event. Mary Magdalene, Peter and John find the tomb empty. Somewhat hesitantly at first they come to believe that Jesus has risen from the dead. This belief was to transform their lives. I have often said that one of the most convincing proofs of the resurrection is this transformation, seen most vividly in Peter who moves from denial to fearless proclamation.
This same Peter, who had denied Jesus, is found preaching the gospel in our reading from Acts 10:34-43. He is at the household of Cornelius – if you want to know how he got there read the beginning of the chapter. Here he again relates the event: “They killed him by hanging him on a tree but God raised him from the dead on the third day and caused him to be seen” v.39-40. So what? – what difference did it make to Peter? He was commissioned to preach the gospel of forgiveness.
Perhaps the first and foremost consequence of the resurrection is that it sets the seal on our forgiveness in Christ. Peter experienced this personally when the risen Christ met with him and restored him (John21:15ff). Many of the “therefore” sayings in Scripture speak of this. Eg Romans 8: “Therefore there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus”.
The second consequence of belief in the resurrection is that we have life. In the reading from 1Cor.15 this is spelled out: “For since death came through a man, the resurrection from the dead comes also through a man. For as in Adam all die, so in Christ all will be made alive” vv.21-22. This life is eternal life, a new quality of life starting now and going beyond the grave. Jesus spoke of this in John 10:10 when he said “I have come that they might have life and have it to the full”
Finally as a result of the resurrection we have hope. Specifically we hope that when we die we too will rise again. In Romans 6:5 we read “If we have been united with him like this in his death (through baptism) we will certainly also be united with him in his resurrection”. We are therefore urged not to grieve as those without such hope (1 Thess. 4:13).
Conclusion
So what? What difference does the resurrection of Jesus make in your life? Because Jesus rose from the dead we experience forgiveness of sins, new life in him and the hope of glory in our hearts. Hallelujah!