Read 1 Corinthians 15.
The resurrection.
How can you say anything about the resurrection? It’s too big a topic. It’s like, “say a little about life.” Or “give me a little meditation on the nature of God.” Or maybe “what is reality?”
The resurrection is the central, defining fact of our lives.
If the dead were not raised, think how differently you would live your life. Your goal would be happiness here. Your concern would be the preservation of this body of flesh and blood. Your desire would be to enjoy life here to the fullest. Much like most of the world, I suppose.
If the dead were not raised, you would still be in your sin. You would be seeking yourself in all things. Your advantage. Your pleasure. Your honor. You would be the measure of all things. Kind of like most of the world, I suppose.
If the dead were not raised, Jesus would not be raised. Love would have failed to prevail over the devil. God would be dead. You would believe the world to be a purposeless, directionless, chance occurrence. Sort of like most of the world, I suppose.
But Jesus is raised. Night is done and the sun has risen. Welcome to the day, in which the sun of righteousness gives light to the whole world, illuminating all the dark places.
Jesus is raised. The trumpet has sounded, the dead are raised incorruptible. We are changed.
Jesus is raised. The world is changed. Jesus ascends into heaven, and he draws the world along with him.
Today, rejoice in spring—in the sun, in the budding of new life.
Today, rejoice in the resurrection—in new life, spiritual life, the life of the world to come.
Today, rejoice in the new world—in the purpose of all that happens, in the salvation of the world, and especially of those who believe, in the growth of love.
O death, where is your sting?
Watch: The Trumpet shall Sound, from Handel’s Messiah
