
โHe is risen.โ
โHe is risen, indeed.โ
So goes the exchange every Easter.
But, ๐ฐ๐ก๐ฒ does it matter that Jesus is risen?
Being neither a theologian nor an apologist, I will simply tell you why it matters to ๐ฆ๐.
Every other god or leader to whom people have historically looked for life and meaning, is now dust, their remains, somewhere on this planet, returning from whence they came.
But, ๐ง๐จ๐ญ ๐ฌ๐จ with the One to whom I look.
I serve, I love, I trust, I worshipโฆa ๐ซ๐ข๐ฌ๐๐ง Savior.
All the circumstances, events, matters, and happenings of my life, from the momentous to the mundane, depend upon a Savior who ๐ฅ๐ข๐ฏ๐๐ฌ, a Savior who tasted death vicariously for me, but then conquered it decisively.
The feet that walked on water took the nails. The hands that cup my face bear the scars. These relics of redemption and souvenirs of salvation demonstrate with their silent, sacred witness, just ๐ก๐จ๐ฐ ๐๐๐ซ Love was willing to go to see us rescued.
Nothing was ๐๐ฏ๐๐ซ the same again. Ancient prophecies were fulfilled. The curse of death was neutralized. The tyranny of sin was subdued, and access to God was granted beyond a veil that was literally, and symbolically, torn in two.
No longer would He be a God of distance, but One whose scepter remains forever extended. Invited to approach, fear would now be replaced with boldness. Reticence would forever be mitigated by an invitation soaked in the blood-stained assurance of a Great High Priest who knows exactly how we feel.
So, we leave the outer courts in search of ๐๐ข๐ฆโonly Him. We donโt dawdle, we donโt waver, we donโt doubt, because if the resurrection proclaims anything at all, it is that our trust in Him was never misplaced.
He, โthe resurrection and the life,โ is who He said He was all alongโthe Christ, the Son of the Living God. Every โI amโ statement He made was proven true with His resurrection. In this, our hope was made manifest and our redemption secured.
And He, ๐ญ๐ก๐ ๐๐๐ฒ who made a way, comes to us all, offering life where there has been death, joy where there has been sorrow, and purpose where there has been pain. Only a risen Savior can do that. ๐๐ก๐๐ญ is why it matters.
โDo not abandon yourselves to despair. We are the Easter people and hallelujah is our song.โ
~ ๐๐จ๐ฉ๐ ๐๐จ๐ก๐ง ๐๐๐ฎ๐ฅ ๐๐
He is risen. ๐๐ ๐ข๐ฌ ๐ซ๐ข๐ฌ๐๐ง, ๐ข๐ง๐๐๐๐.