Risen ... So, Rise!

On a Sunday morning, over 2000 years ago, a small group of women went to a tomb outside of Jerusalem. They went to complete the burial rituals of their culture for a man they had followed and loved. You see, he had been crucified by the Roman government on the Friday prior. He had been crucified because the Jewish rulers in Jerusalem considered him a threat to their status with the Roman officials and a threat to their religious heritage and traditions. (It actually took place by the sovereign providence of God). Due to the customs of the Jewish Passover, once sundown on Friday came, no work could be done until Sabbath was over. Therefore, the burial of Jesus had been hurried, incomplete.


When they arrived in the wee morning hours of that Sunday, the stone covering the entrance to the tomb was rolled away, the tomb was empty. In the midst of the bewilderment, 2 angels appeared and spoke to these women: “Why do you look for the living among the dead? He is not here; he has risen!” (Luke 24: 5—6) And everything changed—not only for this little band of women—but for you and me!

“He is risen” carries life-altering ramifications for us.
1.  It means that Jesus’ payment for my sin-debt was accepted by the God of all. God is just … and sin must be paid for. It was. Jesus put on my sin as one puts on a coat and God judged it … death … debt paid. The reality that God brought Jesus back from that blackness of death allows me to see that, truly, “It was finished”. What return can I make to the Lord for His goodness to me?

2.  Because Jesus is now forever alive … I can be forever alive as well! Ephesians 2:4 –5: “But because of His great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions—it is by grace you have been saved.” It may be true that we are outwardly fading, growing a bit more frail year by year. But that has nothing to do with my real life. Because, inwardly, we who are alive in Christ are being renewed day by day, getting stronger day by day, getting more beautiful day by day. We are alive … now and forevermore.

3.  Since we are alive … why not live like it!? Paul tells us in the book of Romans to quit living as if we were still slaves to sin. We are no longer controlled by our sinful nature but by the Spirit, if the Spirit of God lives in us … so rise up … live like it! Paul writes to the Colossian church (and to us) and says, “So if you’re serious about living this new resurrection life with Christ, act like it. Pursue the things over which Christ presides. Don’t shuffle along, eyes to the ground, absorbed with the things right in front of you. Look up, and be alert to what is going on around Christ—that’s where the action is. See things from His perspective.” (Message translation) So … rise up … you are forever alive … so live like it! How do we do that? Go to the book of Colossians and read chapter 3:1—4:6. Paul describes for us what resurrection looks like. He is painfully specific. And a resurrected life being lived out in our own 21st century will carry with it the same characteristics as the ones Paul describes in Colossians. Jesus knows about resurrected living … trust Him.

He is Risen

He is Risen … Indeed!

So … let us Rise Up

Let us live out, in our own lives,

The Reality of our Risen Lord!