Celebrating Easter.Mostra

Christ Is Risen!

By Rev. Mark Bartsch

We just celebrated the joy of Jesus’ resurrection at Easter. Let’s not allow the excitement to fade away. Rejoice today and every day that Jesus was willing to come down to Earth. Rejoice that Jesus came to keep the law in our place. Rejoice that he defeated the power of the devil. Give thanks that he has blessed us with the gift of faith to believe and trust in him, for life today, and for life tomorrow in heaven.

“I am the Living One, I was dead, and now look, I am alive forever and ever!” Paul writes in the letter to the Romans, “For we know that since Christ was raised from the dead, he cannot die again; death no longer has mastery over him. The death he died, he died to sin once and for all; but the life he lives, he lives to God.” (Romans 6:9)

Jesus also says, “And I hold the keys of death and Hades.” Jesus is in control. Jesus has power over all things, even over hell itself. He has overcome the devil and his evil angels. We, believers, have no need to be afraid. Because of Jesus’ sacrifice for us, heaven is ours. We will rejoice forever in the glory of heaven. The hymn writer said it so well:

Lord, how shall I thank you rightly? I am saved eternally

By your life and death for me. Let me not regard you lightly

But on you in faith depend, Praising you, my heav’nly friend.

Joy, oh, joy beyond all gladness, Christ has done away with sadness!

Hence all sorrow and repining, For the Sun of grace is shining! [CW 1993: 45, v 3]

Prayer: Dear Lord Jesus, thank you! Thank you for your willingness to go the way of the cross for us. Thank you for paying for all our sins. Thank you for your resurrection from the dead. We long to see you in the glory of heaven. In your name, we pray. Amen.