Do we understand the Resurrection?

Do we understand the cross?

Firstly, there are two types of sin in the world – and Jesus took both. He died for our individual sin. For each of us singularly has done stuff wrong and Jesus paid the price for every time we have each fallen short. That’s a lot of sin. And then there’s the sin of humanity as a whole, the sin of a broken world – poverty, inequality, war. Jesus took on the sin of all of humanity – all that is wrong with this world.

Secondly, he suffered both pain and suffering.

In that moment 2000 years ago at Golgotha – the place of the skull – Jesus experienced excruciating pain: skin whipped raw; thorns on his head; nails in his hands and feet; dehydration; culminating in suffocation by the crushing of his lungs. The pain was arguably the worst humanity has to offer.

In addition, in that moment 2000 years ago he experienced the worst suffering imaginable. The price of every sin was placed upon him. He suffered the shame and guilt of every wrong doing in our lives, the abandonment, the humiliation.

Jesus suffered an execution that the Romans later stopped for it was deemed too gruesome. Death by crucifixion was horrific, violent and all around inhumane; but it wasn’t just this physical moment of pain but the suffering of all humanity laid upon him. By us.

Three days later he rose again.

Do we understand the resurrection?

You can’t separate the cross and resurrection. One is nearly meaningless without the other. They are inextricably tied. I get the cross. He died for me so that I am forgiven. But what about the resurrection? Wasn’t the cross enough to restore the relationship?

1. Without the resurrection Christ would not be alive. He now walks with me every day. And I can be with Him for eternity.

2. Without the resurrection the cross is thrown into question. Was the cross enough? We can be sure for he rose again.

3. The miracle of all miracles proves one thing for certain. HE IS KING. He is God. Not just another good teacher but God – part of the trinity – the one God.

4. He beat it all. All of it. He was more than evil. He overcame the world, the devil and all powers of hell.

I sometimes forget my testimony is the cross AND the resurrection. He died for humanity and rose again for humanity. We are the people of the empty cross. We are the people of the empty tomb. He did not stay dead.

I challenged the youth this week to reflect: what does the resurrection mean for me? Where is the resurrection in my story? How am I a person of the resurrection?