#DailyDevotion Jesus Is Risen! He Is Risen Indeed! Hallelujah!

Easter Sunday

1 Cor. 15: 3For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received: that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures, 4that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures, 5and that he appeared to Cephas, then to the twelve. 6Then he appeared to more than five hundred brothers at one time, most of whom are still alive, though some have fallen asleep. 7Then he appeared to James, then to all the apostles. 8Last of all, as to one untimely born, he appeared also to me.

Christ is risen! He is risen indeed! Allelujah! He in this chapter we have the confession of our Christian faith, particularly as it is confessed in the second article of the Creed. Jesus died for our sins. He was most certainly dead. Blood and water came from his side on the cross indicating he was truly dead. If crucifixion and a spear going through didn’t kill you, being wrapped up in a hundred pounds of spices and put into a sealed tomb certainly would. But Jesus gave us the spirit on the cross. Our sins were paid for. Our salvation was won.

Jesus was buried. But he didn’t stay buried. On the first day of the week Jesus rose from the dead. He experienced a resurrection. His body had been glorified. His body is now immortal, imperishable and glorified. He will never die again.

We see the line of witnesses in this passage: Cephas, the twelve, five hundred brothers, James, all the apostles and finally Paul. Let us not forget the women who saw Jesus risen first and reported back to the twelve. This was no mass hysteria. This was a miracle!  He who was dead was now alive. And not just any resurrection. Jesus raised people from the dead. They died later. The apostles raised people from the dead. They died later. But Jesus will never die again.

Because Jesus is risen you are forgiven, on the last day, you too will rise from the dead. Indeed on the last day, Jesus’ resurrection is so encompassing that all the dead will rise. Some will rise to everlasting life and some to eternal perdition. But you who believe in Jesus Christ and his resurrection will be raised like Jesus, to eternal life, never to die again for all eternity. We don’t just become spirits floating around on some cloud. We are raised bodily, just like Jesus and our bodies are glorified just like Jesus’ body is. That is our Christian hope in this life. Amen.

Gracious Father, even as you have raised Jesus from the dead, grant us faith to rise to immortality and glorious like your son Jesus Christ on the day of his revelation. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.