Easter Sunday: Jesus is Alive and So Are You

"While they were perplexed about this, behold, two men stood by them in dazzling apparel. And as they were frightened and bowed their faces to the ground, the men said to them, 'Why do you seek the living among the dead? He is not here, but has risen. Remember how he told you, while he was still in Galilee, that the Son of Man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men and be crucified and on the third day rise.'" Luke 24:5-7

"I serve a risen Savior, he's in the world today! I know that he is living, whatever men may say. I see his hand of mercy; I his voice of cheer. And just the time I need him, he's always near. He lives! He lives! Christ Jesus lives today. He lives! He lives! Salvation to impart. You ask me how I know he lives--he lives within my heart!" The words of the old hymn ought to live true in our heart today. Christ does indeed live, and because he lives, those who are in Christ Jesus are alive as well.

Two women made their way to the tomb early Sunday morning to take care of Jesus' dead body. When they arrived, they found a stone rolled away from the tomb and no body of Jesus. However, what they did find was two angels proclaiming that the Lord had risen (see quote above, Luke 24:1-12).

Two men were walking to Emmaus as they mourned about the death of the Savior. They had hoped that this Savior would redeem Israel, but he now lie dead in the grave. Jesus appeared to them, though they did not recognize him. While they were mourning, Jesus taught them how Jesus' death had been prophesied in the Old Testament, yet they still did not believe. But then their eyes were opened and they proclaimed the Lord's resurrection (Luke 24:13-35).

The eleven disciples were speaking together when Jesus appeared to them again. They thought that he was a ghost, and they did not believe. But then Jesus proclaimed of his own resurrection and ate with them. They believed. Jesus then proclaimed to them that he was the fulfillment of the entirety of the Old Testament, and that since this is true, they ought to proclaim his Gospel to the ends of the earth (Luke 24:36-49). For Jesus is alive!

But what does Jesus' life mean for us? Romans 6:8: "Now if we have died with Christ, we believe that we will also live with him." For those of us who have believe in God, repented of our sin, and called upon the name of the Lord (Romans 10:13), it is no longer we who live, but Christ who lives within us (Galatians 2:20). We have died with Christ, but just as he rose again, we rise again. Just as Christ died, we die. But just as Christ lives, we live. For we are dead to sin, and alive to God, and we ought to live like it. "So you also must consider yourselves dead to sin and alive to God in Christ Jesus" (Romans 6:11).

So what? What do we do now? Behold our God. What mighty a king would give his life that he might rise again? What gracious a Savior would endure the wrath of God to be raised on the third day? What loving a God to send his son to be crucified and live again? Therefore, go and sin no more. If God has died for you, why should you continue to sin for him? If God has given his life for you, why should you not give your life to him in obedience? And lastly, go tell it on the mountains. Jesus Christ is Lord! He is not here, he has risen (Luke 24:6). Go live like this is true, proclaiming the death and resurrection of our Savior (see Luke 24:46-49). Amen and Amen.