Happy resurrection day 2025 to all!
The apostle Paul as a devout Pharisee believed in an eventual resurrection of the righteous dead long before his conversion. However, like most Jews of his day, he likely did not believe that the Messiah would die and be resurrected. This in spite of several Old Testament passages such as Isaiah 53:10, Psalm 16:10, and Zechariah 12 :10 suggesting a Messiah who would be resurrected from death. Can you imagine what went through his mind after his encounter with post-resurrection Jesus Himself?
The resurrection of Jesus Christ is one of the greatest, if not the greatest, events in mankind’s history. His resurrection serves as the prototype for the resurrection of the just we hope to be part of as His followers. His glorified body is likened to the resurrection bodies we will receive at His second coming. Paul eventually wrote much about this in his many epistles. An enlightened Paul wrote this: “Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, and that He was buried, and that He rose again the third day according to the Scriptures.” (1 Corinthians 15: 3-4). He said further, “And if Christ is not risen, your faith is futile; you are still in your sins!” “If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men the most pitiable” (1 Corinthians 15:17,19). The promise of a resurrection of the righteous to glory was of utmost importance to Paul. For him personally it was his number one goal. “Yet, I count all things loss…. that I may gain Christ…. that I may know Him and the power of His resurrection…. If by any means, I may attain to the resurrection from the dead.” (Philippians 3:8-11).
Like Paul, our number one goal should be attaining to the resurrection of the dead when Christ comes. We can take comfort in these verses speaking of the resurrection: “For we who are in this tent groan, being burdened, not because we want to be unclothed, but further clothed, that mortality may be swallowed up by life. Now He who has prepared us for this very thing is God, who also has given us the Spirit as a guarantee. “ (2 Corinthians 5: 4-5). Yes, if we are in Christ and possess His Spirit, our future resurrection is guaranteed!
As we celebrate the resurrection of our Lord this Easter Sunday, think on these things. The burdens of this brief life will seem trivial compared to glories of life eternal in His kingdom. Our Savior has paved the way for us by His own resurrection.
Maranatha, Jim