I have been continuing to think about the resurrection of Christ.
Where I live in the northern hemisphere, flowers and trees and plants have been blooming. It is spring time.
I don’t think it is coincidence that the earth comes back to “life” again in the spring time when Christ rose from the dead. I think God planned that.
The southern hemisphere is always in the fall season when those who live there remember Christ’s resurrection. I suppose the colorful, dead leaves could be a reminder of dying to self - to be raised to new life in Christ.
Either way, I see so many beautiful illustrations displayed in nature, God’s beautiful creation.
Four years ago, I shared a post on this blog about Christ’s resurrection, and I shared this picture.
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| Photo taken at the Garden Tomb, Jerusalem, Israel. |
I love this picture today as much as I did then. They say a picture speaks a thousand words. This picture does that for me.
To me, this picture conveys so many things including: peace, light, love, hope, beauty, tranquility, serenity, heaven, and the list goes on. Those are things that are found in Christ.
It is not only what I see in the picture; it is also where it was taken that does something to me. This picture was taken at the very place where God’s Son died and rose from the dead.
I can picture our dear Savior there, dressed in a long white linen robe, stretching out His arms with love.
Indeed, He did that when He stretched out His arms in love to be nailed to a tree.
I have thought a lot about resurrection and life. If something is living, it does not need to be resurrected. Only when something is dead does it need to be resurrected.
Sin brought death into this world - in every way.
Christ came to redeem and restore - to resurrect from the dead. He came to give us life. Our God is a God of life.
I love the paper plates my mom had for our lunch on Resurrection Day this year.
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| Our lunch plates this year. |
After lunch that afternoon, I went for a brief walk in our neighborhood. On my walk, I thought about Christ’s resurrection.
It is a joyful thing to think about and remember. It reminds me that our Savior is alive today! Hallelujah! That is remarkable and worthy of much thought.
Christ’s resurrection also reminds me that He is exactly Who He said He was - the Son of God.
Christ resurrection also reminds me that a future resurrection of the dead is coming. He was the first fruit to rise from the dead. That part is really glorious because it guarantees a greater resurrection to come!
We rejoice on Resurrection Day, and rightly so.
Sadly though, there is still grief in this world - even on that day. Why so?
I thought about that on my walk. If Christ is alive, why do we still grieve and suffer in this life?
It is because final redemption has not come yet.
Christ was the first fruit - guaranteeing that final redemption when He comes back.
Our spirit can be redeemed now, but our body has not been redeemed yet. That is coming in the future.
I read a good quote recently, and I thought it was worth sharing. I do not know her, but I loved what she shared.
“Lord, Your resurrection means that I grieve with real hope. Your resurrection means my beloved one is alive with you, and I can look forward to eternity with you and them. Your resurrection means I have life here, and while my heart hurts, I cling to the promise that you’re good, and life and joy are for me. Your resurrection means you have the final word, and that my story will not end in ashes.”
~ Lisa Appelo
I say “amen”. Well said.
After thinking about it for a while, I decided to write something small myself - about what Resurrection Day means to me.
“Resurrection Day reminds me that everything good that has been destroyed by sin and death, Christ came to redeem.
Christ’s resurrection is the promise of complete future redemption - life from the dead.
To me, that is worth celebrating more than anything else.”
~ Erin Cross
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