Because He Lives
It is a really good thing Jesus is alive!
Easter is the most exciting annual celebration of the Christian faith. More people will attend, return to or visit local churches on Easter Sunday than any other Sunday, and for good reason - He is risen! (Say it if you know it, “He is risen indeed!”) Yes, Jesus is alive and this is great news, because (as Paul says in 1 Corinthians 15) if He wasn’t raised, that means He wasn’t who He said He was, His death on the cross was not sufficient to forgive sins, our faith in Him is pointless and we’re hopelessly lost. But… since He has been raised from death, we have hope of forgiveness of sin and eternal life with God!
But our celebration of Jesus as our living hope (1 Peter 1) is far more than a validation of our faith. The resurrection and heavenly reign of Jesus Christ is profoundly practical in many ways. As it turns out we need Him more on a daily basis than we are often conscious of. And this is precisely why He promised to be with us always (literally, “all of the days”), even until He comes again (Matthew 28). Consider how Jesus is busy in heaven working on our behalf and He is active in us by the Holy Spirit, who Paul calls “the Spirit of Christ.”
Assurance of Salvation. Jesus is essentially keeping us saved by His ministry from His throne in heaven. Theoretically of course, if Christ were to cease his ongoing priestly work, we would lose all security of salvation.
Hebrews 7:25 – Consequently, he is able to save to the uttermost those who draw near to God through him, since he always lives to make intercession for them.
Jude 24-25 – Now to him who is able to keep you from stumbling and to present you blameless before the presence of his glory with great joy, to the only God, our Savior, through Jesus Christ our Lord, be glory, majesty, dominion, and authority, before all time and now and forever. Amen.
Rescue and Reunion. Jesus is preparing our eternal home for us and will surely return to take us to be with Him forever. This is the picture of Christ and His Bride, the Church finally being united – the crescendo of the Father’s redemptive plan and His desire to glorify Christ.
John 14:2-3 – In my Father’s house are many rooms. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, that where I am you may be also.
Revelation 19:7-8 – “…Let us rejoice and exult and give him the glory, for the marriage of the Lamb has come, and his Bride has made herself ready; it was granted her to clothe herself with fine linen, bright and pure…”
Forgiveness of Sin. Jesus died for all our sins, past, present and future. That said, He lives to grant forgiveness in real time to the repentant, ensuring we always stand before the Father in the righteousness of Christ. After all, it is only in the name of Jesus and by our trust in Him that we claim forgiveness for sin.
1 John 2:1 – My little children, I am writing these things to you so that you may not sin. But if anyone does sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous.
Acts 2:38 – Peter said to them, “Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.
Access in Prayer. Because Jesus lives after making a sufficient atoning sacrifice for our sin, we can approach the otherwise unapproachably holy Father in His worthy name and be accepted, even invited to fellowship with Him, offer Him praise and humbly make requests.
John 15:16 – whatever you ask the Father in my name, he may give it to you.
Ephesians 2:13,18 – But now in Christ Jesus you who formerly were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ. …For through him we both have access in one Spirit to the Father.
Wisdom and Guidance. Jesus guides us by the Holy Spirit and often times by seems right to us after we have devoted the issue to prayer and sought wise counsel. Also, we trust that He directs our path simply by circumstance through His sovereign providence.
Acts 15:28 – For it has seemed good to the Holy Spirit…
Acts 16:6-7 – And they went through the region of Phrygia and Galatia, having been forbidden by the Holy Spirit to speak the word in Asia. And when they had come up to Mysia, they attempted to go into Bithynia, but the Spirit of Jesus did not allow them.
Protection from Sin. Jesus appeals to the Father on our behalf for our protection against sin and the temptation of our spiritual enemy.
Matthew 6:13 – And lead us not into temptation but deliver us from evil.
John 17:15 – I do not ask that you take them out of the world, but that you keep them from the evil one.
Spiritual Growth. Jesus is producing spiritual fruit in His followers and conforming us more to His image as we abide in Him.
John 15:5 – …apart from me, you can do/make/produce nothing.
1 Corinthians 3:18 – And we all, with unveiled face, beholding the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another. For this comes from the Lord who is the Spirit.
Provision of Needs. Jesus models a life and ministry free from worry and teaches us to pray daily to the Father about our material needs, confessing our constant dependence on Him.
Matthew 6:11 – Give us this day our daily bread.
Matthew 6:30 – But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is alive and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith?
Rest and Peace. Jesus lives to receive the humbled and the exhausted, inviting them into the unconditional acceptance found only in Christ and the comfort and encouragement of His Spirit.
Matthew 11:28-30 – Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.”
John 7:37 – On the last day of the feast, the great day, Jesus stood up and cried out, “If anyone thirsts, let him come to me and drink.