1 PETER 1: 3

It is forever established that here in the Church of God, not only do we preach with great conviction Christ Crucified but we also with great resolve preach Christ Risen and Exalted. On this, another Easter Sunday, we triumphantly declare and celebrate – He is Risen! This is the main cause for all our excitement and celebration, the glorious resurrection of our majestic Lord and Savior. If there is one message that makes the devil fighting mad, is this – “… that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, and that He was buried, and that He rose again the third day according to the Scriptures” (1 Corinthians 15: 3,4).

How tragic it would have been if Jesus was just crucified and remained in the tomb, buried and unraised. Today, we are reminded that this is the capstone of Christianity. This is the cornerstone of our Christian faith – the message of the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, ensuring the resurrection of every born–again believer based on the finished work of Christ on Calvary.

There is no message the enemy hates and despises more. Not being able to stop the inevitability of the resurrection, he tries everything within his power to discredit the actual truth and power of the resurrection. With unstoppable power Jesus got up from the dead and “shewed himself alive after his passion by many infallible proofs, being seen of them forty days, and speaking of the things pertaining to the Kingdom of God” (Acts 1: 3).  He got up from the dead in such a powerful, incontestable demonstration of power and manifestation that there was absolutely nothing the devil and all the forces of darkness could do to stop and prevent Him. In fact, the more they attempt to discredit the risen Christ is the more this message continues to spread. It’s the more people are being saved, and people are being healed. “The stone that the builders rejected has become the head of the corner. This was the Lord’s doing, and it is marvelous in our eyes” (Mark 12:10,11).

It is undeniable that all the gospel writers affirm and testify with firm authority, “He is not here – He is Risen! The angel said to the seeking women, “. . .Why seek ye the living among the dead? He is not here, but is risen: remember how he spake unto you when he was yet in Galilee” (Luke 24:5,6). We will not find Jesus in a Jerusalem tomb. There is nothing to dig up or excavate or search for. The Scripture simply asserts “He is Risen!” Come back tomorrow,w and we will get the same message – He is not here. He is risen! He has risen just like He said. The tomb is empty. Hallelujah! Not only do we preach an empty tomb, but we actually proclaim in addition to that, He is Risen. Christ totally arose! He vacated the tomb!

Therefore, today we celebrate without reservation and with unbridled joy: declaring “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His abundant mercy has begotten us again unto a lively hope by the Resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead” (1 Peter 1: 3). This Easter we celebrate the risen Savior and daily walk in the power He has given us!