By: Rex Stump
Wauseon, Ohio
As followers of Jesus Christ, we celebrate our faith in the Resurrection of our living, eternal, life-giving Savior at Easter.
As we remember the Last Supper, the prayers of Jesus, and the brutal beating and crucifixion, we reflect with a heavy heart on all that Jesus endured.
But that dark Friday and quiet Saturday was nothing but the building of anticipation for a powerful Resurrection Sunday!
We celebrate what no other religion can claim — Jesus Christ lived, died, and resurrected from the dead, giving all who place their faith in Him new life.
1 Peter 1:3, “All praise to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. It is by his great mercy that we have been born again, because God raised Jesus Christ from the dead.”
We know from history that Jesus wasn’t the first person to rise from death. Elijah raised a widow’s son 850 years before Jesus.
Elisha did the same thing with the Shunammite’s son. Years later, Jesus raised a dead boy in Nain and Lazarus in Bethany prior to his own death and resurrection. These are a few recorded in God’s Word.
What’s the difference in Jesus’ conquering death and the others? Jesus’ resurrection was permanent. He never died again. All others who were resurrected lived for a period, but then died again.
Jesus’ death and resurrection brought some permanent changes to all of human life. Peter continued to say in verse 4, “Now we live with great expectation, and we have a priceless inheritance, an inheritance that is kept in heaven for you, pure and undefiled, beyond the reach of change and decay.”
Our faith in a living Savior changes everything today and tomorrow! We have a living hope! We have a priceless inheritance! We have an eternal hope!
May God bless you and remind you of his gracious and merciful gift of salvation, the eternal hope, and priceless inheritance.
“Stay strong, stay focused…stay faithful!”
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Rex Stump is the Area Director for the Fellowship of Christian Athletes and serves as a Pastor at True North Church in Wauseon, Ohio.