“Early on Sunday morning, as the new day was dawning, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went out to visit the tomb. Suddenly there was a great earthquake! For an angel of the Lord came down from heaven, rolled aside the stone, and sat on it. His face shone like lightning, and his clothing was as white as snow. The guards shook with fear when they saw him, and they fell into a dead faint. Then the angel spoke to the women. “Do not be afraid!” he said. “I know you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified. He is not here! He is risen from the dead, just as he said would happen. Come, see where his body was lying. And now, go quickly and tell his disciples that he has risen from the dead…” ”(Matt 28:1-7).
For Christians, the glorious resurrection account of our Lord and Saviour is more than an interesting story. It is a fact and a life-giving gift. “Christ died for our sins… He was buried and he was raised from the dead on the third day” (1 Cor 15:3-4). Our Easter calling is to let Christ live in us—to die to the sins for which Christ died (Rom 6:6-7), to be free from the bondage of sin and evil (Gal 5:23-24) and to choose life through the power of the Holy Spirit (Rom 8).
The church is the community of God’s people that is defined by the Easter event (1 Peter 2:9-10). Christ is alive when love rules (Acts 2:42-47). Christ is alive when the church is shaped by God’s word. Christ is alive when worship is performed with great joy. Christ is alive when we share the gospel to others. Christ is alive when we look forward to his return (John 14:1-4).
As we celebrate the wonder and awe of Easter, may God help us respond in inward and outward worship as we pattern our lives according to Jesus’ life. Christ is risen and He is coming soon!