An Easter Reflection on: Christ is Risen! He is Risen, Indeed! Alleluia

We shout on Easter Sunday, “Christ is risen! Christ is risen, indeed. Alleluia!” Why do we always shout that wonderful phrase on Easter? Because God raised Jesus from the dead on that glorious first Easter; defeating the power of sin and death; giving the world God’s gift of grace. That is our main belief as ELCA Lutheran Christians.

 As important, and needed, Jesus’ resurrection was, it was NOT just for Him. In Matthew’s gospel, as soon as Jesus died, many people began to rise (Matthew 27:52). As we believe, when Jesus died, he descended to the dead (not hell), the dead, for the purpose to preach the “good news” of God’s grace to them, too; to resurrect them to new life (1 Peter 3:18-20).

 Jesus’ resurrection is also a resurrection for the world, for all people. There are many people in our world, living, as though they were dead, because of all the devastating effects of sin (you know them all, right?). Like the first witnesses of the resurrection, and many since, our calling as the Church of Jesus Christ is to live and share Easter Resurrection Joy everywhere and every day!

 Our calling is to live and shout, “Christ is risen! Christ is risen, indeed. Alleluia!” How do we shout that phrase? Not, by just shouting it. Rather, by following Jesus’ example and command to actively live God’s love all. It’s as simple as greeting a store clerk, donating food items to a local food bank to help those in need; by talking life issues with family and friends; being an advocate for social justice issues, and the list goes on and on.

As Jesus died, descended to the dead, was raised by God, and walked out of that tomb that day, He left the sin of the world in that tomb. Jesus freed the world from the power of sin and death and left our sins, all sins, and “All means all”, in that tomb; forgiven, sealed, and forgotten, forever!

“Christ is risen! Christ is risen, indeed. Alleluia!”

What if we “shouted” and “lived” that phrase everywhere and every day for all to hear, come to believe, and live God’s resurrection love for all? How much more joy, hope, and peace would the world have? How can we NOT!