Easter
But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. 1 Corinthians 15:57 (ESV)
Let’s play a game of word association. What pops into your head when you think of “pizza”? What about “music”? “Easter”? “Sunday”? How about this one, “Jesus”? There are a lot of words a person could associate with the name Jesus: Savior, God, Lord, Redeemer, Good Shepherd… The list goes on and on. But during the Easter season, there’s one word we can connect with Jesus more than any other: “victory.”
Imagine trying to tell this to His disciples on Good Friday. On the cross the corpse of Jesus of Nazareth hung motionless. The once popular Rabbi was dead. Where was the kingdom of which He often spoke? Where was the victory He promised?
Death never looks like victory. It looks like total defeat. Death leaves behind grieving hearts and sorrowful souls. Such was the situation on Good Friday, but with the dawning sun of Easter Sunday came the good news of victory. The tomb was empty. He had risen just as He said! The resurrection proves that everything Jesus accomplished on earth—His sinless life and sacrificial death—was accepted by the Father and is granted to us by faith.
The resurrection wasn’t just Jesus’ victory; it was our victory too! When we close our eyes for the last time, it will appear as if death has won, but it will only be an illusion. In reality, for believers like us, death is just the door to life where Jesus and all the saints are waiting for us in the paradise of eternal life. When you think of Jesus, think of victory!
Jesus lives! The vict'ry's won!
Death no longer can appall me;
Jesus lives! Death's reign is done!
From the grave Christ will recall me.
Brighter scenes will then commence;
This shall be my confidence.
Lutheran Service Book 490:1