"My living hope"

Several years ago, a coworker asked me what my favorite holiday is.  My answer was a surprise to her, just as it might be to you: I answered Easter.  “What about Christmas?”  She asked.  I replied that I loved Christmas too; but I went on to explain that Easter is the day to celebrate that Jesus Christ walked out of the grave, alive forevermore! 

My love for Easter has only been deepened since then.  In fact, the importance of this day cannot be overstated.  Romans 1:4 says that Jesus “was declared with power to be the Son of God by His resurrection from the dead.”  Later on in that same book, we read, “If you confess with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.” (Romans 10:9).  1 Peter 1 says we have been given “new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus from the dead.”  I don’t worship a dead corpse; I worship the risen Lord Jesus Christ!

Someone wants to know why Jesus’ resurrection is important.  I would invite you to take a fresh look at some statements Jesus made.  For example, Jesus arrived to Mary and Martha, grieving the loss of their brother, Lazarus.  And Jesus unequivocally states, “I am the resurrection and the life.  He who believes in Me will live, even though he dies” (John 11:25).  Just so you know: if I ever make such a claim about myself to you, I lost my sanity.  No, I’m not the resurrection and the life, but Jesus is, He backed up His words on Easter Sunday.

I have been gripped by this incident in John 16.  On the last night He had with His disciples, the Lord speaks words that, as usual, His disciples didn’t understand.  He declares in John 16:16, “In a little while you will see me no more, and then after a while you will see.”  The disciples are thoroughly confused, and Jesus clarifies.  “I tell you the truth, you will weep and mourn while the world rejoices.  You will grieve, but your grief will turn to joy” (verse 20).  He goes on to give the analogy of the pain of a woman in labor, but upon delivery of the baby, she completely forgets the pain, and instead there is only joy.  Verse 22: “So it is with you: Now is the time of your grief, but I will see you again and you will rejoice, and no one will take away your joy.”  And that’s exactly what happened.

In conclusion, I love Phil Wickham’s song “Living Hope”.  “Who could imagine so great a mercy?  What heart can fathom such boundless grace?  The God of ages stepped down from glory to wear my sin and bear my shame.  The cross has spoken, I am forgiven…Jesus Christ, my living hope.”  And here's the climatic stanza: “Then came the morning that sealed the promise; Your buried body began to breathe.  Out of the silence, the roaring lion declared the grave has no claim on me.  Jesus, yours is the victory.”  There is hope in Jesus.  He is the hope.  He is my hope; my living hope.

Kevin