Easter Triumph! Easter Joy!

Luke 24:5-7 The angels standing in the tomb said to them, " 'Why do you look for the living among the dead? He is not here; he has risen! Remember how he told you, while he was still with you in Galilee: 'The Son of Man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men, be crucified and on the third day be raised again."

The Son of Man was supposed to suffer and die. The Son of Man was supposed to take our place on the cross. And he did all of that and more. The Son of Man was also supposed to be raised back to life on the third day, and he did. All that he was supposed to do, the Son of Man, Christ Jesus, fulfilled. By this act he saved all who believe in him, and gives us life through Him, because He too was raised!

1 Corinthians15:17-22; 55-56"And if Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile; you are still in your sins. Then those also who have fallen asleep in Christ are lost. If only for this life we have hope in Christ, we are to be pitied more than all men. But Christ has indeed been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep. For since death came through a man, the resurrection of the dead comes also through a man...Where, O death, is your victory? Where, O death, is your sting? 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."

So we see that the resurrection of Christ is the culmination of all our faith! He suffered for us, for our sins, but all that would have been for naught had Christ not been raised. Our joy is complete though because we know he was raised! By raising Christ, God accepts his sacrifice and atonement for our sins and gives us life. Death is no more! We as Christians are victorious! As Paul says in Romans, "we are more than victorious!" Ours is the joy that is beyond any other joy. We are triumphant! When I hear the Easter hymns, and Alleluias it moves me inside, Christ has won, he has triumphed over the grave, over the devil, and over sin. No more is man separated from God, but we are now connected with Him in Christ! Praise be to Christ! The triumph is ours! The joy is ours!

As my pastor said in his sermon, "He is risen! He is risen indeed, alleluia! Through his resurrection though, we can also say, 'We are risen!' Praise be to Christ for this!