The Power of the Resurrection

 This Sunday is not about an Easter Bunny. It’s not about an Easter basket, chocolate, or even Peeps. IT’s not about the disciples not believing the women or not believing the two men who met Jesus on the road to Emmaus. It’s not about politics. It IS about Jesus conquering death and coming back to life. Since Jesus had the power to conquer death and sin, we have the power to have freedom, forgive, and love. 

Freedom. Jesus died so we could be free from our sins. His death was a sacrifice. His resurrection declares that His sacrifice is permanent. We do not have to pay for our sins.  Jesus paid for our sins with his death and resurrection. 

Jesus conquered death, and we are free to choose to accept it or not. Jesus does not force us to follow Him or to believe in Him. When we choose with our own free will that Jesus gives us to believe in Him, he frees us from our sin which gives us life. 

The power of the resurrection gives us freedom and the responsibility to live free in Christ. “The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. The sting of sin is death, but the gift of God is life.” (1 Corinthians 15:56; NIV) Many Christians believe that our life in Christ begins when we die and we spend eternal life in Christ. That is true, but it is not when our life in Christ begins. Our life in Christ begins the moment we choose Christ. 

Spiderman is right, with great freedom comes great responsibility.  We are free in Christ, but we must live as we are in Christ and not just as those who do not have Christ. We love with our words and posts on social media because we know that it is more important that people see Christ rather than our political agenda or how right we are. We have the freedom to choose.  How we choose can determine the choice of someone choosing Christ. 

The power of the resurrection brings forgiveness. Jesus forgave us for our sins through his death. We must be willing to forgive others when they sin against us. Jesus said that if we forgive others of their sins, then our sins will be forgiven. We want God’s forgiveness, but we struggle to forgive others of their sins. 

Jesus’s resurrection reminds us that forgiveness is a powerful act. Before Jesus gave up his spirit on the cross, He said, “Father, forgive them for they do not know what they are doing.”  (Luke 23:34: NIV) If at his lowest point in life and his dying words can be to forgive those killing him, then we can forgive others when they sin against us. However, forgiveness is not easy, but it is a powerful act. 

So many people believe that if they don’t forgive someone it does two things. First, it hurts the person they are not forgiving. Second, it reveals the power of the person unwilling to forgive. Both ideas are wrong. Forgiveness is powerful. It’s not the effect of the power on the other person, but on the person that forgives. When you forgive, you are letting go of the hurt, and you become powerful because you are not allowing the other person’s sin have power over you. Jesus revealed his power on the cross and his resurrection with his forgiveness. 

The power of the resurrection brings love. Jesus died and rose again because he loves us. We can love others because of the love Jesus has for us. We don’t love with a love that tolerates, but with a love that reveals kindness and hope. We can be patient. We don’t boast. We endure. 

Today, may we realize that with the resurrection of Jesus we have the power of freedom, to forgive and to love. This day is about the power of Jesus. This day is about Jesus. Let us live our lives so other people can see Jesus.