EASTER'S OVER. NOW WHAT?

Consider the following verse:
New Revised Standard Version
Matthew 28: 6 He is not here; for he has been raised, as he said. Come see the place where he lay.

New King James Version
Matthew 28: 6 He is not here: for he is risen, as he said. Come, see the place where the Lord lay.

Linguistically and grammatically speaking, both of the above translations are accurate, but this post isn’t about grammar or Greek-to-English linguistics.

It’s about our mindset toward the resurrection. There is a temptation now that Easter is past to “move on”. The ecstasy of Resurrection morning seems too magnificent, too heart-wrenching to continue in past the day. But if we just file Easter away we lose something vital. Something that is so essential to our faith that the moment had to be hidden for us to see it.

Think about it. Mary was aware of the immaculate conception. The birth of Jesus occurred with family and probably a few strangers around. Christ’s life, ministry, and miracles—His baptism, His transfiguration, His triumphant entry on Palm Sunday---all happened where others could see. The ascension was witnessed by hundreds. The charisma of the Holy Spirit was publicly displayed on Pentecost. But no human eyes saw the Resurrection. Even the guards at the tomb were unconscious when it happened.

The Resurrection, the very moment of Christ’s victory over death has human witnesses only to its aftermath.

Why? I wonder why such an important—the most important--- moment in the history of God’s relationship to humanity would not be sealed by the irrefutable observations of scores of eyewitnesses.

I think the answer is in the subtle difference between the NRSV’s technically correct phrasing and King James’s more poetic rendering of the angel’s declaration at the empty tomb.
Jesus was born.
Jesus preached.
Jesus died.

But ….

Jesus is risen!

Easter is not just about an event 2,000 years in the past. Nor is it about a service last Sunday.

Easter, the Resurrection, is about who and how Christ is now.

Christ is risen. No one needed to see Him get up, because the getting up from the grave wasn’t the main point. The main point of the Resurrection is that Jesus is not now in the grave.

In John chapter 11, Lazarus was raised from the dead by Jesus; but eventually Lazarus died again.
Jesus is risen from the dead never to die again.

Because the Resurrection is a present truth, we in this moment have hope of our resurrection one day, if we are in Christ (Romans 10: 9; Colossians 2: 12).

Because the Resurrection is an eternal reality, Jesus declared even before He entered Jerusalem to be betrayed and crucified that “I am the Resurrection and the Life” (John 11: 25).

Christians serve Jesus Christ not for who He was but for who He is. He is “I am,” Yahweh, Jehovah, Lord, God. It is in relationship with Jesus, present and eternal, that we find hope, peace, promise, and purpose. We pray, study, praise, evangelize, proselytize, and minister to needs because Jesus is.

After all the eggs have been hunted, after the baskets have been emptied, after the new clothes have grown old, remember ---whatever translation of the Bible you use--- that

He Is Risen!