Alive and Risen

He suffered, bled and died. They saw it. They thought all hope was lost …

But …

There was victory in His death. For on the cross He took the sin of the world upon Himself so that peace could be made with the Father. It certainly did not look like victory to those mourning His loss. As far as they were concerned, everything ended with His death.

Then He defeated death.

Why do you look for the living among the dead? He is not here; he has risen! (Luke 24:5-6)

He had told His disciples on more than one occasion. It was fulfilling something that had been a part of the story not just of a nation, but of the human species. Fulfilling what had been written over centuries that though man had rebelled against his creator, that loving Creator would still complete His work through the being He made to reflect Him. His rule on this earth through His children would still be realised and He would do it by overcoming every single opponent that prevented humanity from being restored.

He defeated the devil, He defeated the grave, He defeated death and rose triumphantly. And in rising and showing Himself to His followers, He gave them a reason for their faith to soar more than ever before. Whenever there were moments of doubt again, they could recall seeing the resurrected Messiah in their company in a room eating fish. Whenever they faced rejection and persecution, they could recount the episode of the risen Saviour walking to Emmaus opening hearts and minds to the truth that God had spoken from the beginning.

When they remembered they could see that the scandal of the cross was the set-up for the resurrection. They didn’t need to look down on their woes, they could look up to see the one who had overcome and now gave them His Spirit to overcome too.

What amazing love, what great news that you won’t find the living among the dead. He is risen and those who place their trust in Him will have the chance to enjoy the power of the resurrected one.

That’s the news that convinced a group of Galileans to turn the world right-side up. Starting in the city, spreading to the region and then affecting the world with the news that the Rescuer, the Redeemer, the Righteous Ruler has come. Not only has He come, but He has served. Not only has He served, but He has suffered. Not only has He served and suffered, but He has supremely conquered death and has sent His Spirit to give those that receive and accept the news His life.

That’s the news that reached my heart finally in the summer of 1993. It’s the news that saw me celebrate new life in the public act of baptism in February 1994. It’s the news that gives me strength from day to day. It’s the news that reminds me that His rule is filled with mercy and grace. It’s the news that reminds me that His rule sets the captives free as they know the liberating truth of who He is. It’s the news that has turned me from a lonely outsider into recognising and celebrating the reality of being a part of the Family of God. It’s the news that shapes my new identity in Him where other aspects of identity are not a barrier to unity, but a reflection of the multi-faceted reality of life.

He is alive and risen – that’s good news.

(Photo by Sharon McCutcheon on Unsplash)

For His Name’s Sake

Shalom

C. L. J. Dryden