Our family spent the day with a couple of international student friends – one from India and one from China. For the one from India, this is his first experience of Easter. It was fun watching it from his eyes experiencing new things. For the one from China, this is her third and as a believer in Christ, she can enjoy it with the confidence and joy of one who embraces everything that it stands for.

I just heard that a dear friend passed away. He and his family had been suffering with a long term ailment. It has not been easy to watch their circumstances. Hearing that brought great sadness.

Yet… today is Easter. Today is the day that our faith in Jesus revolves around. It is my goal to read through the New Testament 3 times this year and I just happened to be on 1 Corinthians 15 today. Throughout this passage the apostle Paul reminds us how vital the resurrection of Jesus is to us. He begins by recounting the events of the resurrection and the actual effects it had on believers of that time. Then he goes on to remind us that if Christ did not rise from the dead, everything followers of Jesus do and stand for are useless. As he puts it,

17 And if Christ has not been raised, your faith is useless; you are still in your sins. 18 Furthermore, those who have fallen asleep in Christ have also perished. 19 For if only in this life we have hope in Christ, we should be pitied more than anyone.

He then goes on to affirm…

20 But now Christ has been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep. 21 For since death came through a man, the resurrection of the dead also came through a man… 23 But each in his own order: Christ, the firstfruits; then when Christ comes, those who belong to him. 24 Then comes the end, when he hands over the kingdom to God the Father, when he has brought to an end all rule and all authority and power… 28 And when all things are subjected to him, then the Son himself will be subjected to the one who subjected everything to him, so that God may be all in all.

Then he describes that nature of our Resurrected body and the reason why Jesus’ death an resurrection were so critical…