Christ is Risen! He is Risen Indeed!
When I was a teen I remember being resentful toward a fellow student because he was good looking, athletic, smart and popular, all the characteristics I wanted but felt I possessed only in meager a measure. Whenever our paths crossed I changed direction, I wanted nothing to do with him. Now understand, he had done nothing wrong to me, what was wrong was something inside of me. Part of who I was/am was warped by the power of sin. I was the resentful one.
One day those feelings began to change. We were at school when this fellow went out of his way to speak to me. He was polite and even pleasant. Later, without prompting, he did something kind for me. Then, when we again crossed paths, he smiled and gave me a wave.
His actions changed me and changed my thoughts and feelings toward him. We did not become best friends but we did become friendly toward each other.
Likewise, Jesus’ resurrection reaches into the depths of our souls to change who we are. In John 11 Jesus raised his friend Lazarus from the dead. Many of those who saw this miracle believed in Jesus as the Messiah. But not everyone was inspired to faith by this miracle, some responded by plotting to kill Jesus. In their reaction to Christ we see an image of our own sinful selves. Our old, sinful nature rejects God’s work of salvation and the One God sent to save us.
However, in the miracle of Jesus’ resurrection, God reaches deep into our souls to change us and inspire a faith response to Christ. Out rejection is transformed by his gracious gift to us and we become people of faith, Saints of God.
Yes, we will always in this life wrestle with our old, sinful nature. But that old, sinful nature will not always rule us. We are new, transformed Saints of God, empowered to know and love God who loves us and to bear His redeeming power into this broken world.
Christ is Risen! He is Risen Indeed!
Pastor Tim Cartwright