As we come together as the body of Christ to celebrate the death and resurrection of our Lord, we must remember that this is not an annual celebration which we revel in today and forget tomorrow. We must make a daily conscious reflection on the impact of that momentous feat - Christ’s death on the cross, through which our burdens were borne, the price of our transgression was paid, and sin and death were swallowed up forever.
Beyond Reflection
But it must also go beyond reflection. We don’t want to simply be impressed spectators. If we are truly to be partakers of the salvation that comes through Christ’s death, we also must be partakers of that death itself. Not by a physical death but by dying to the flesh - our sinful nature, that is our natural tendency toward things that gratify our flesh rather than feed our spirit - which is at odds with the nature of God. And as we die to sin we have the assurance that as Christ himself was raised to life we too are reborn, as new creatures in Christ.
"Yet a little while and the world will see me no more, but you will see me. Because I live, you also will live". - John 14:19
All through Jesus
It is only through Jesus that we can live in relationship with God. It is only through His death that we are freed from the guilt of sin. It is only through his resurrection that we are made new in mind, body, soul and spirit. It is only through his ascension that we receive the Holy Spirit - the helper which works in us to be constant reflectors of his glory. And it is in eager expectation of his return that we can confidently declare ‘I live because HE lives’!
