An Easter weekend reflection… From Friday to Sunday – From death to resurrection! It’s significance for those “in Christ!”
For my personal devotional Bible reading I use a plan I developed a number of years ago entitled “Necessary Food” (based upon Job 23:12 where Job declares, “I have treasured the words of His mouth more than my necessary food!”). It’s uncanny sometimes how diverse and separated passages fit together in a profound way! Two passages in my Bible reading today did that – they embraced the truth and reality of both death and life – the significance of Friday in Holy Week and the powerful truth of the Resurrection for those who are “in Christ!”
First of all the reality of death – what “Good Friday” signifies for Christians…
I’ve got news for you… you’re going to die! Death is a reality for all humanity! The passage I read this morning, Psalm 49 declares…
“Listen to this, all you people! Pay attention, everyone in the world! You cannot redeem yourself from death by paying a ransom to God… no one can ever pay enough to live forever and never see the grave! Those who are wise must finally die, just like the foolish and senseless… they may name estates after themselves but their fame will not last! They will die! … When they die, they take nothing with them! Their wealth will not follow them into the grave. In this life they consider themselves fortunate and are applauded for their success. But they will die like all before them!” (from Psalm 49 NLT)
Sin brought death to all humanity! But Jesus offered Him for our sin! That’s why 1 Corinthians 15 in its opening verses declares, “Christ died for our sins, just as the Scriptures said. And He was buried…!” He identified fully and completely with us!
The second passage I read this morning, however, declares the significance of the Resurrection – of Easter – for those who are “in Christ!”
“But in fact, Christ has been raised from the dead! He is the first of a great harvest of all who have died. So you see, just as death came into the world through a man [Adam], not the resurrection from the dead has begun through another Man [Jesus Christ]! Just as everyone dies because all belong to Adam, EVERYONE WHO BELONGS TO CHRIST WILL BE GIVEN NEW LIFE! … Christ was raised as the first of a harvest; THEN ALL WHO BELONG TO CHRIST WILL BE RAISED WHEN HE COMES BACK! (from 1 Corinthians 15.20-23 NLT)
Oh… I don’t want to forget… Embedded in Psalm 49, the first passage that I read this morning are these wonderful words of hope… “But as for me, God will redeem my life! He will snatch me from the power of the grave!” (Psalm 49:15 NLT)
So on this Friday of Holy Week, I want to pause and thank Jesus from the bottom of my heart for dying on the cross for MY sin (and the sin of the whole world)! And believe me, I’m looking forward to Easter – “Resurrection Day” – and eternal life – “resurrection life” – both now, and in the future when He returns! Happy Easter!!!
