20090412
Today, Easter Sunday, Christians all over the world rejoice that Jesus Christ rose from the dead. With great joy we victoriously proclaim to the world:
Up from the grave He arose, with a mighty triumph o’er His foes;
He arose a victor from the dark domain,
And He lives forever, with His saints to reign.
He arose! He arose! Hallelujah! Christ arose!
His resurrection from the dead is a triumph over death. He lives forever and is now seated at the right hand of God. He is the firstfruits of all that sleep. “But Christ has indeed been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep” (1 Cor. 15:20). Christ’s resurrection from the dead is an important event for Christians. If Christ did not rise from the dead, our faith in Him is futile and we are still guilty in our sins. Our risen Lord has cleansed the sins of all who believe in Him. Because of the victory of our Lord Jesus Christ at the cross, we have eternal life if we place our faith in Him.
Our Lord Jesus Christ was the first to rise from the dead with a resurrection body. Others such as Lazarus (Jn. 11:43-44) who were raised from the dead were raised only to die again. As Christians we look forward to the day when our perishable bodies take the form of imperishable bodies. With this hope in mind Christians no longer are afraid of death but look forward to their resurrection with imperishable bodies – the risen Lord Jesus as the firstfruits.
Col. 1:18 reminds us: “And He is the head of the body, the church; He is the beginning and the firstborn from among the dead, so that in everything He might have the supremacy”. Christ is to have supremacy in everything. Is He Lord in your life? Does He have supremacy in the things you do? As believers in Christ, we ought to make Him Lord of our lives, stand firm in our faith, give ourselves fully to the work of the Lord, knowing that our labour in the Lord is never in vain! “And from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, the firstborn from the dead, and the ruler of the kings of the earth. To Him who loves us and has freed us from our sins by His blood, and has made us to be a kingdom and priests to serve His God and Father–to Him be glory and power for ever and ever! Amen” (Rev. 1: 5, 6).
