Resurrection Sunday

Matthew 28:6
He is not here; he has risen, just as he said!
Come and see the place where he lay.

At the beginning of human history God created Adam and Eve. He made a beautiful garden for them to live in. He walked and talked with them face to face. He loved them dearly. God gave them just one rule to obey. But Adam and Eve couldn't even keep that single instruction. They chose to disobey. God told them that the punishment for sin was death and separation from God. Every man and woman who has lived since Adam and Eve has followed the same path. We all have sinned and because of that, the Bible says we all deserve to die and be separated from God forever.

But God is merciful beyond comprehension. He loves us and doesn't want us to be separated from Him. He had a plan. His plan was to let someone who had never sinned take our punishment for us. Since all mankind has sinned, that Someone had to be God Himself. Jesus Christ, God's son, came to earth and lived a perfect, sinless, loving life. Yet even though He did no wrong, He allowed Himself to be put to death by men who hated God. At that moment, he took all our sins on Himself and carried them to the grave. That was Friday, but Sunday was coming!

On Sunday morning, Christ showed his power by conquering death. He rose from the grave. He now offers to credit the payment He made to the account of anyone who turns from their sin and trusts in His sacrifice for salvation. I praise Him that He did that for me!

Romans 1:4
Who through the Spirit of holiness was declared with power to be the Son of God
by his resurrection from the dead:
Jesus Christ our Lord.

Although I'm going to enjoy spending time with my family tomorrow, dressing my children up in fancy clothes, and giving candy to them and to my Sunday School class, all that is nothing compared to the greatness of Christ's resurrection and what that means to me! I hope to be able to communicate that to my children and my class.

I Corinthians 15
If Christ has not been raised, our preaching is useless and so is your faith.
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.
For as in Adam all die, so in Christ all will be made alive!

Happy Resurrection Sunday!