“‘He is not here.’ This is the only place of which it could be considered good news to say, Christ is not here. ‘Christ is here’ was good news at Bethany, at Jericho, at Nain, at Capernaum, or on the Sea of Galilee; but ‘Christ is not here’ is the good news from Joseph’s tomb.” – Horatius Bonar, quoted in O Sacred Head Now Wounded, p. 425

How does Christ’s resurrection benefit us?

The Heidelberg Catechism—that tested and proven instruction manual on Christian doctrine—has a helpful three-part answer for us.

First, the resurrection points to a mission accomplished.

Fewer things are more embarrassing than a premature celebration. It’s the slow-motion tragedy of someone getting tripped up on their own presumption. You’ve seen the scene of some race where the runner begins to lift their hands in celebration oblivious to the person on their heels ready to steal a victory. Or when President George W. Bush famously stood on the USS Abraham Lincoln and pronounced concerning American military operations in Iraq, “Mission Accomplished.” 

The resurrection of Jesus from the grave is what enables us to truly say concerning Jesus mission to atone for sinners: mission accomplished. If his body had continued in the grave, then we would have no guarantee that his atoning sacrifice was accepted by God the Father. We would have no assurance that our debts were paid and that our acceptance by the Father was secured. The resurrection was the Father’s divine stamp of approval on all that Christ came to do to redeem his people. When Christ was released from the grave, it was the signal from heaven that the cup of wrath had been totally empty and there was no more price for Christ or those who belong to him by faith to pay.

Second, the resurrection pulls us into heaven now.

Yes, the resurrection means that even now believers have a spiritual existence in heaven. Paul says that God, being rich in mercy, made us alive together with Christ and raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus (Eph. 2:4-6).  Similarly, Paul says in Colossians 3, that we have been raised with Christ and now, by virtue of our union with him, our life is hidden with Christ in the heavenly places (Col. 3:1-4).

We are in Christ by faith. If Christ remains in the grave, we languish there with him; but, if Christ has been raised and has ascended into heaven, then we—connected to him—have spiritual life in him in heaven even now. From our union with the resurrected Jesus flows gracious spiritual life into the believer so that we can live as children of heaven among the children of men.

Thirdly, the resurrection promises us life in the future.

If Christ’s body stayed in the grave, how could we expect anything different? Our bodies could never expect preferred treatment over the Savior’s. But, since his body has been raised, it broadcasts that death is not an inescapable prison. The door of the grave, as Fred Leahy put it, has been busted from the inside. Christ, as our elder brother, will lead his people out of the grave also at the final resurrection.

The resurrection of Jesus is like the first reinforcements appearing on the horizon. He signals that beyond the horizon—not yet within the range of our sight—others are coming. Death is not the last word. Not for us. Not for loved ones who have fallen asleep in Jesus. Life, glorious resurrection life, is how the story ends. A life that is not marked by sin or sorrow or suffering. Just pure, unending, uninterrupted, joyful life in the presence of the Resurrected Lord.

All because the tomb is empty and Jesus has been raised. Praise the Lord!

Happy Easter,

Pastor Wayne 

What I’m Reading

Gathered Together: The Beauty of Living as God’s Church by Karl Deenick – An easy-to-read book that makes the case for why the church is central to God’s big plan of salvation. Deenick looks at how the church fulfills its God’s given purpose in its gathering and scattering. A good book for any Christian to read or to read through with a nominal Christian who thinks the church isn’t that important.

The Years of Lyndon Johnson: The Path to Power (Volume 1) by Robert Caro – I’m 500 pages into volume one (of four!) books on the life of President Lyndon Johnson. It’s one of the most remarkable biographical works that I’ve read. Well-written, incredibly informative, vast in scope, and a fascinating look at the psychology of America’s 36^th president.