Thoughts For Easter

Why Jesus’ Resurrection is Different from Lazarus Rising from the Dead

Have you ever wondered this? Why is Jesus’ empty tomb more talked about, sung about, celebrated and remembered than something like Lazarus’ rising from the dead (John 11)? Both were miraculous, both defied death - although admittedly, Lazarus’ dodge of death wasn’t ultimate, and he eventually was reacquainted with his family tomb for good. Is Jesus’ resurrection more spectacular because He performed this miraculous resuscitation on Himself? Or is something greater going on here? It wasn’t until recently that I began to appreciate just how much the resurrection of Jesus accomplished (thanks to the book Surprised By Hope by N.T. Wright).

I’ve always seen Easter Sunday as first in line amongst Jesus’ many impressive miracles, but it is so much more than that. The resurrection of Jesus (which Christians proudly celebrate on Easter Sunday) is far more than a miracle of defying death. The resurrection of Jesus signified the beginning of a new creation, scandalously inaugurated right in the middle of the old one. No one was expecting that. Jesus, throughout His ministry, had been talking about God’s rule coming on earth “as it is in heaven” (calling this the “kingdom of God” or the “kingdom of Heaven”). What was so surprising about the first Easter Sunday was that the kingdom of God; this signpost of hope, was initiated right in the middle of history.

When Jesus rose, He demonstrated that God’s hope is to bring life and rule to earth, and not to simply snatch us away to heaven. Jesus’ resurrection is so glorious because it the prototype and the proof that God will make all things new here on earth, and that we humans are invited into this newness. We’re invited into this newness starting now. Jesus’ death and resurrection opened up a new way of everlasting life that burst into reality and that starts in the present. As N.T. Wright said, “people who believe in the resurrection, in God making a whole new world in which everything will be set right at last, are unstoppably motivated to work for that new world in the present.” Therefore, we Christians look to Jesus’ resurrection with relief and awe, taking it as evidence that God’s redemptive reign has begun on earth, and remaining hopeful to this cause alongside the Church in our present.

I am proud to celebrate Easter Sunday and I am proud to be caught up in the Christian hope. We Christians have much to celebrate, much to be relieved about, much to look forward to, and much to do in the meantime. I’ll end this gushing of praise with quoting F.F. Bruce…

“In Jesus the promise is confirmed, the covenant is renewed,
the prophecies are fulfilled,
the law is vindicated,
salvation is brought near,
sacred history has reached its climax,
the perfect sacrifice has been offered and accepted, the great priest over the household of God
has taken his seat at God’s right hand,
the Prophet like Moses has been raised up,
the Son of David reigns,
the kingdom of God has been inaugurated,
the Son of Man has received dominion
from the Ancient of Days,
the Servant of the Lord,
having been smitten to death
for His people’s transgression
and borne the sin of many,
has accomplished the divine purpose,
has seen light after the travail of His soul
and is now exalted and extolled
and made very high.”