My Easter Thoughts
Earl J. Prignitz
March 31, 2007
The Resurrection is the most important event in the life of the Christian Church! Not the birth of Jesus, nor his ministry, nor his crucifixion are as critical as his Resurrection from the grave. Obviously the Resurrection could not have happened without the previous phenomenons occuring. But without the Resurrection the Church of Jesus Christ would not have survived these many years. That is my conviction and I hold it strongly. I have been convinced of this for many years.
After the crucifixion and burial of their master the disciples were terrified and disconsolate men, hiding fearfully behind barred doors in an upper room in Jerusalem. They trembled at every knock on the door; they feared the same fate that had befallen Him. But after they had been convinced--and they were not easily assured, as the various Resurrection narratives make quite clear--they were men transformed. Fear was transformed into courage, uncertainty into a strong and radiant faith. Immediatly they were out in the open streets of the city that had dealt so brutally with their master, proclaiming with passion and joy the great salvation that had been wrought through this mighty vindication of His son by the almighty God.
The Resurrection has very little to do with spring, except that we celebrate Easter then. There is some symbolism involved in those Easter eggs, in the idea of new life emerging, in the budding of trees and the appearance of flowers, and in the earth's recovering from the death-grip of winter. But the Resurrection is so much more.
The Resurrection is the power of God which raised Jesus Christ from death to life. Ephesians speaks of that power "which He exerted in Christ when He raised Him from the dead and seated Him at His right hand in the heavenly realms..." (Eph 1:20, NIV). That is the Resurrection! It transcends season, and it even by-passes revered religious rites and rituals, because it is centered in the dust and trauma, the blood, sweat, tears, hopes, and dreams of all human existence.
Yes, the Resurrection is the Good News that there is life after death and we can look forward to it with great anticipation. HAPPY EASTER!
After the crucifixion and burial of their master the disciples were terrified and disconsolate men, hiding fearfully behind barred doors in an upper room in Jerusalem. They trembled at every knock on the door; they feared the same fate that had befallen Him. But after they had been convinced--and they were not easily assured, as the various Resurrection narratives make quite clear--they were men transformed. Fear was transformed into courage, uncertainty into a strong and radiant faith. Immediatly they were out in the open streets of the city that had dealt so brutally with their master, proclaiming with passion and joy the great salvation that had been wrought through this mighty vindication of His son by the almighty God.
The Resurrection has very little to do with spring, except that we celebrate Easter then. There is some symbolism involved in those Easter eggs, in the idea of new life emerging, in the budding of trees and the appearance of flowers, and in the earth's recovering from the death-grip of winter. But the Resurrection is so much more.
The Resurrection is the power of God which raised Jesus Christ from death to life. Ephesians speaks of that power "which He exerted in Christ when He raised Him from the dead and seated Him at His right hand in the heavenly realms..." (Eph 1:20, NIV). That is the Resurrection! It transcends season, and it even by-passes revered religious rites and rituals, because it is centered in the dust and trauma, the blood, sweat, tears, hopes, and dreams of all human existence.
Yes, the Resurrection is the Good News that there is life after death and we can look forward to it with great anticipation. HAPPY EASTER!
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