Holy Week Day 3

 Day 3 

Tuesday 

We are  living  through  a  period  of  time  that  will  be written  about  in  history  books.  You  will  tell  your grandkids  about  the  time  the  world  shut  down due  to  a  pandemic.  Documentaries  will  retell  the story of  COVID-19 for generations to come. It’s  tempting  to  dwell  on  the  weight  of  the  global pandemic,  but  I  would  encourage  you  to  step back.  There  is  a  far  greater  historical  moment that  you  should  be  thinking  about  this  week.  It’s the  most  significant  event  in  the  history  of  the universe: it’s the bodily resurrection of  the Lord Jesus Christ. 

Everything in the Bible,  everything that your faith relies  on,  and all  of  your  reasons  for  hope  rest on  this  day.  If  there  is  not  a  specific  point  in  time where  Jesus  walked  out  of  the  tomb,  then  your religion  is  a  waste  of  time.  The  book  that  we  call the  Word  of  God  wouldn’t  be  worth  the  paper that it is written on. 

This  is  the  argument  the  Apostle  Paul  makes  in  1 Corinthians 15: “And if  Christ has not been raised, then our preaching is in vain and your faith is in vain […]  And if  Christ has not been raised,  your faith is futile and you are still in your sins.  Then those also who have fallen asleep in Christ have perished.  If  in Christ we have hope in this life only,  we  are  of  all  people  most  to  be  pitied.”  (vv. 14,  17-19,  ESV) 

Because  of  this  factual  and  historical  miracle,  as believers  in  Jesus  Christ,  we  get  to  experience a double resurrection.   First,  we are resurrected out  of  our  spiritual  deadness  (Ephesians  2:1), and we  become  spiritually  alive  in  this  life.  The  Bible describes your life today with a beautiful word – abundant!  (John  10:10)  Your  heart  is  soft,  your mind  is  alive,  and  your  soul  desires  obedience to  Christ.  You  have  been  raised  to  life  so  you  can experience  the  beauty  and  glory  of  the  gospel right here,  right now. 

There’s  a  second  resurrection.  It’s  that  final moment  when  we  will  be  resurrected  out  of this horrible,  broken,  and groaning world to live forever  in a world  of  righteousness  and peace and  harmony. There  will  be  no  virus,  no  suffering, no death,  and no sin.  We will live with our Savior forever and  ever.  If  Jesus  did not rise,  there is no double resurrection for us. 

Turn back to 1 Corinthians 15.  I love how the passage  continues:  “Then  comes  the  end,  when he  delivers  the  kingdom  to  God  the  Father  after destroying every rule and every authority and power.  For  he  must  reign  until  he  has  put  all  his enemies  under  his  feet.  The  last  enemy  to  be destroyed is death.” (vv.  24-26) 

What  does  this  mean?  Jesus  is  now  reigning between  the  “already”  of  the  first  resurrection and the “not yet” of the second resurrection. In confusing and unpredictable moments like we’re now living through, you don’t have to wonder what your Lord is doing. He is reigning as King, putting all of his enemies under his feet. That final enemy will be death, and when death is under his feet, he will say to the Father, “All things are now ready.”

 This week, may your heart be filled with the hope and joy knowing that Jesus did, at a certain point in time in history, walk out of that tomb victorious over death. Because he did, you have life now and life forever. That victory over death guarantees your victory today over sin and secures the ultimate triumph in the end. Christ today reigns on your behalf, defeating enemies you could not overcome.   

Scripture Reading 

1 Corinthians 15:20-28 

20 But Christ has indeed been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep. 21 For since death came through a man, the resurrection of the dead comes also through a man. 22 For as in Adam all die, so in Christ all will be made alive. 23 But each in turn: Christ, the firstfruits; then, when he comes, those who belong to him. 24 Then the end will come, when he hands over the kingdom to God the Father after he has destroyed all dominion, authority and power. 25 For he must reign until he has put all his enemies under his feet. 26 The last enemy to be destroyed is death. 27 For he “has put everything under his feet.” Now when it says that “everything” has been put under him, it is clear that this does not include God himself, who put everything under Christ. 28 When he has done this, then the Son himself will be made subject to him who put everything under him, so that God may be all in all. ( New International Version, NIV)