Today, I want to share another Bible passage - 1 Cor. 15:13-19:
“For if there is no resurrection of the dead, then Christ has not been raised either. And if Christ has not been raised, then all our preaching is useless, and your faith is useless. And we apostles would all be lying about God—for we have said that God raised Christ from the grave. But that can’t be true if there is no resurrection of the dead. And if there is no resurrection of the dead, then Christ has not been raised. And if Christ has not been raised, then your faith is useless and you are still guilty of your sins. In that case, all who have died believing in Christ are lost! And if our hope in Christ is only for this life, we are more to be pitied than anyone in the world.” (NLT)
The resurrection is the central moment, not only for our faith, but in all of history. On the cross, Jesus paid for the sin of the world. By rising again, He proclaims victory over sin, death and hell. And He turns to you, and asks you to join Him in that victory - to leave behind sin, shame, pain, tears and death and instead to share His kingdom.
Tomorrow* we celebrate that victory - and the invitation that goes along with it.
*Originally posted on the Saturday before Easter.