Monday, April 09, 2007

Celebrating Jesus' Resurrection

Every year the world follows the same traditional holiday of celebrating "Easter". Some places have adopted the weird tradition of incorporating a big furry rabbit that runs around & deposits birds' eggs that have been colorfully died or fashioned from some form of synthetic material in various obscure places for young children (& adults alike) to find. Then the children (& adults alike) are given a basket filled with various chocolates & jelly filled candies in the shapes of bunnies & birds eggs. What is it about the bunnies & bird eggs? I don't really know. Perhaps it has something to do with spring time, but to be honest: I didn't take time to look into the background of it. It just doesn't interest me because it has nothing to do with Jesus' resurrection.

My definition of this event --
Easter:
The once a year world celebration of all things spring-like... & happens to incorporate a rememberance that Jesus died for our sins... mostly focusing on his pain & torture.


As for celebrating the Lord Jesus Christ's resurrection: That is a daily event.

As disciples of the Lord, we understand that the resurrection is not a one-time-a-year event for us. This is a daily event. Everyday we put to death the old man & the old ways. Everyday we live in the new life, the resurrected life that empowers us to become sons of God. We understand this event as the most powerful conquering event that has freed us from the power of sin & death. We are not interested in focusing on the gory details of the crucifixion. We already know what it was about. We have seen it once & that was enough. We're not bound to watching it every year -- reminding ourselves of this gruesome event & the frailty of Jesus' human condition. We already remember that he was like us -- he became flesh -- he was tempted at all points as we are... & that is why he is able to succor us. We are aware that all those who witnessed the death of Jesus felt an immense loss at the time it was happening. Because they could not understand why such a thing had to happen. However, we are not focused on how his mother, Mary, in particular, must have felt to watch her son die. We already know that Mary knew Jesus did not belong to her, but to God. Just as all of our children, siblings, parents, family members... no matter who they are... do not belong to us, but to God. We commit them into God's hands. Each of us has our own decision to follow after Jesus. We cannot prevent, interfere, or meddle with the work of God. What God has purposed, what He has spoken, will come to pass. Every jot, every tittle. It's not about Mary. It's about JESUS:
For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believes upon him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
He that believes on him is not condemned: but he that believes not is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.

That's what it's about.

(Php 3:10) That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death;
(Php 3:11) If by any means I might attain unto the resurrection of the dead.
(Php 3:12) Not as though I had already attained, either were already perfect: but I follow after, if that I may apprehend that for which also I am apprehended of Christ Jesus.

(1Pe 1:3) Blessed [be] the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to his abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,
(1Pe 1:4) To an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you,
(1Pe 1:5) Who are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.

(1Pe 3:21) The like figure whereunto [even] baptism doth also now save us (not the putting away of the filth of the flesh, but the answer of a good conscience toward God,) by the resurrection of Jesus Christ:
(1Pe 3:22) Who is gone into heaven, and is on the right hand of God; angels and authorities and powers being made subject unto him.

(Rev 20:5) But the rest of the dead lived not again until the thousand years were finished. This [is] the first resurrection.
(Rev 20:6) Blessed and holy [is] he that hath part in the first resurrection: on such the second death hath no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with him a thousand years.