RESURRECTION DAY

HE IS ALIVE

This month, the whole of Christendom, is remembering the passion and death of the Lord Jesus Christ on the cross and His resurrection. But, many of us may have forgotten that to be able to enter fully into the celebration of Easter we have to go through Lent to experience grief and sorrow for our sins. We are all like the prodigal son who had gone into the far country, not wanting to have to do anything with his father. We want to run our own lives, away from God’s sight and to do what we want – with no restraint but to enjoy “life” to the fullest. And there, in the far country – we realize how wrong we are! In the distant country, we ended alone and impoverished, unloved, abandoned, and forsaken.

But God, the merciful Father, sent His Son Jesus Christ to the far country to share our lot, to bear the consequences of our own folly, to lead us home to the waiting Father. Jesus Christ, the Only Son of God, was crucified for us. He died as our representative and substitute. He paid for the penalty of our sin. We have rebelled against Him who is our Father, Maker and Creator. Jesus, His only Son, died for us, for our sins, on the cross – that He can bring us back to God. “God was in Christ, reconciling the world to Himself….” (2 Cor. 5: 19). God made Him (Jesus Christ) who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God” (2 Cor. 5:21). “God showed His love for us in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.” (Romans 5:8). Jesus the giver of life, died that we may be brought back to the waiting Father. He opened the way back to God, if we would repent and mourn for our sins and folly.

Yet, Jesus’ death is not the end of the story. Jesus Christ, the One who died in the far country, did not remain dead. God raised Jesus from the dead. He conquered death. He rose again, triumphant and victorious! Our sins are fully paid for by His death on the cross and because Jesus lives again, the way has been opened for us to go back home to God. Now, we can sing and dance, rejoice, laugh, shout and celebrate because the Son Who died is now alive ready to accept us and to take us home to the Father.

There, we can start anew our relationship that was broken by sin. There, we can have fellowship with the Three-in-One. We are no longer forsaken and abandoned, but loved, embraced and fully restored to Him. For, “The LORD your God is with you, he is mighty to save. He will take great delight in you, he will quiet you with his love, he will rejoice over you with singing.” (Zephaniah 3:17).

Hallelujah! What a Savior. Happy Resurrection Day everyone!

Lina Padilla, MEANS Board Chair