On the Resurrection

Easter Day

ALMIGHTY God, who through thine only-begotten Son Jesus Christ hast overcome death, and opened unto us the gate of everlasting life: We humbly beseech thee, that as by thy special grace thou dost put into our minds good desires, so by thy continual help we may bring the same to good effect; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who liveth and reigneth with thee and the Holy Spirit, ever one God, world without end. Amen.

Easter

O GOD, who makest us glad with the yearly remembrance of the resurrection from the dead of thy only Son Jesus Christ: Grant that we who celebrate this Paschal feast may die daily unto sin, and live with him evermore in the glory of his endless life; through the same Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Alleluia, Christ is risen!

Last Easter, the Church of England engaged in a social media campaign in which they engaged the public to trend the twitter tag #EverythingChanges and explain how Christ’s resurrection on Easter Sunday changes everything for us. Social media isn’t always the best tool of evangelism, but regardless, it was a great opportunity to see the views of many Christians on the revolution Christ offers us.

While the focus of Holy Week is on our Lord Jesus Christ, it is also a time to reflect on the Apostles and disciples, and how they responded to our Lord’s death and resurrection. In this, we can more easily relate and see how indeed everything does change.

On Palm Sunday, we see them boldly following in Christ’s triumphal procession as he enters Jerusalem. It evokes, albeit briefly, a literal reminder of 2 Cor 2. 14 and Christ leading us always in triumphal procession. Yet that is not the whole story. On Maundy Thursday, the striking words of Christ as he washes the feet of the Apostles, “What I am doing you do not understand now, but afterwards you will understand.” At the last supper, when one of God’s greatest gifts to humanity, the Holy Eucharist, was instituted, those closest to Christ on Earth still did not understand.

At the end of Maundy Thursday mass, St Matthew’s Gospel is read, recounting Jesus foretelling Peter’s denial of him. Peter is shocked and responds, “Even if I must die with you, I will not deny you!” (Mt 26. 36). These again are bold words, but already in Christ’s forewarning that they would scatter, we see that 2 Cor 2. 14 is not yet fulfilled. Judas had already betrayed Christ, and later after Christ’s arrest, Peter himself denies Christ three times as Christ had foretold.

While they professed strong devotion—even to follow Christ to their deaths—it took little to prove their faith and devotion in him hollow. The full quotation of 2 Cor 2. 14 is actually, “thanks be to God, who in Christ always leads us in triumphal procession, and through us spreads the fragrance of the knowledge of him everywhere.” It is only in Christ, and in his sacrifice, that we are now able to follow God in this triumphal procession.

Compare the actions of the Apostles in Holy Week to the Apostles and Disciples as they are described in the Acts of the Apostles after the resurrection.

All the disciples are set alive in the Holy Spirit on the day of Pentecost. They were living in the light of his resurrection, and in the fire of the Spirit. They lived in a Christian fellowship inspired by an irresistible calling of God:

And they devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers. And awe came upon every soul, and many wonders and signs were being done through the apostles. And all who believed were together and had all things in common. And they were selling their possessions and belongings and distributing the proceeds to all, as any had need. And day by day, attending the temple together and breaking bread in their homes, they received their food with glad and generous hearts, praising God and having favour with all the people. And the Lord added to their number day by day those who were being saved. (Acts 2. 42-47)

What a change, a change further testified to throughout the Acts of the Apostles. Whereas the Apostles had once all affirmed the oath of Peter to follow Christ to their deaths, then abandoned him as he had predicated, yet after the resurrection, all but one of the Apostles were martyred, and St John, who died at an old age, lived the martyr’s life, exiled, persecuted and tortured for Christ, but surviving all the same.

In Christ’s passion, death and resurrection, everything changes for his Apostles and disciples. As it does for the rest of us.

Christ’s resurrection is freedom from all that would separate us from God, and the reaction of the disciples in the early church should be an aspiration to what the modern church should seek in revival. It is the image of Christians not simply living in fellowship, but truly living in discipleship to Christ.

The life of faith is not about making promises to serve him to the end. It’s not about doing particular things and try hard. He suffered death on the cross for our redemption, a full, perfect and sufficient sacrifice, oblation and satisfaction for the sins of the whole world. He then returned in his resurrection to empower us to live the life we were called to live. A life in which we continue to receive God’s love and blessing. It is one of the reasons why Holy Baptism is so fitting for Easter. As Christ died and was resurrected for us, so to do we accept the gift he has offered to allow our old selves to die and be resurrected in a new life, filled with the Holy Spirit, from the waters of baptism.

Easter is the reminder that the Gospels don’t end with Christ’s death but with the fulfilment of his call to new life as he returns to fulfil God’s promises. They are a call to the Christian life, and a call to accept God's offered gifts. In Easter, everything changes.

Alleluia, Christ is risen!