The Truth of Easter

Is there a resurrection of the dead? The Easter answer to that question is simple: Yes. God has raised Jesus. He has taken our greatest sin – the rejection of his Son – and He has turned it into the forgiveness of sins and our greatest good – reconciliation with Him and eternal life in his Kingdom.

The truth of Easter is easy to doubt. For that reason, I've found that it’s a good practice to consider the truth of Easter in light of other questions regarding the Christian faith. Because these other questions all have a “yes” answer, they offer encouragement that the promise of Easter is indeed true.

When we ask whether God raises the dead and brings good out of evil, we can ask also whether the words of Christ are true. Here are just a few to consider: When we try to save our life, do we thereby lose it; and when we lose our life for the sake of following Christ, do we thereby find it? (Mat. 16:25) Do those who are weary and carrying heavy burdens find rest for their souls in Jesus? Is his yoke easy and his burden light? (Mat. 11:28) Does being a disciple of Jesus free us from bondage to sin? (John 8:31-36)

Another set of questions to consider comes from the Beatitudes, where Jesus pronounces blessings on the poor in spirit, those who mourn, the meek, those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, the merciful, the pure in heart, the peacemakers, and those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake. (Mat. 5:3-10) Are such people truly blessed? Is there an unseen Kingdom of God within/among us (Luke 17:21), where the people described in the Beatitudes find blessing and joy? And lastly, is there really a Kingdom “not from this world” (John 18:36) in which Jesus is King and which we find by faith in – and obedience to – him?

To those who ever have ventured forth in faith and, with Christ, died to this world, these questions are easy to answer. Yes, we find our true selves by denying ourselves, and we find true life by dying with Christ. Yes, there is a Kingdom of God that is “not from this world”, where Jesus reigns and where those who have him as their King are truly blessed.

The “yes” answer to these other questions points to the truth of Easter. And so yes, God raised Jesus from the dead, and those who are “buried with him in baptism” are “also raised with him through faith in the power of God.” (Colossians 2:12) Ultimately, the truth of Easter (Jesus is risen) is the fundamental truth of life.  All the "yes" answers to the other questions are rooted in the ultimate "yes" of Easter.

Of course, it’s possible to grasp the truth of Easter with the intellect and remain unchanged. The purpose of the Easter message is not speculation nor even fascination, but discipleship. That’s because Truth is not merely a concept to be grasped with the intellect, but a Person to be trusted and loved. Jesus, in his very Person, is the Truth of Easter. He is risen, and “if we have been united with him in a death like his, we will certainly be united with him in a resurrection like his.” (Rom. 6:5) As Luther would say, this is most certainly true.