It hardly seems possible, but I’m already neck-deep in preparing for Resurrection Sunday, which is March 31. As I write this, that’s only five weeks away. Yes, it happens about the same time every year; yes, the preparation and celebration are just about the same every year; however, that doesn’t change the fact that the schedule, plans, and preparations have to be made. The day is coming, whether I’m preparing for it or not, so it just makes sense that I ought to be working on it now. In fact, simply because I know that Easter comes every year, I could easily be working toward it all the time, and perhaps I should, considering that Christ’s resurrection is the foundation of our faith. Paul made this simple statement about the gospel:
Now, brothers and sisters, I want to remind you of the gospel I preached to you, which you received and on which you have taken your stand. By this gospel you are saved, if you hold firmly to the word I preached to you. Otherwise, you have believed in vain. For what I received I passed on to you as of first importance: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures. (1 Corinthians 15:1-4)
That Jesus sent his disciples into the world to “preach the gospel to all creation” (Mark 16:15) should tell us clearly that the mission of the church is all about the resurrection.
“The gospel” literally refers to the “good news” of God’s gift of new life in his kingdom that Jesus brought near through his life, death, and resurrection. It’s good news about new life from death, light in darkness, rescue from slavery, and forgiveness of debt. Just as Jesus’ kingdom mission in his life and ministry was resurrection, so is ours.
This ought to be obvious through the basic elements of our identity and practice as the church. As “Christians,” we are called to be and transformed to be more like Christ (Ephesians 4:11-13), and we experience that when we join with Christ, as Paul reminds us: “We were therefore buried with him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life” (Romans 6:4). We gather in remembrance of Christ’s resurrection on the first day of the week, following the example of the early church (Acts 20:7; 1 Corinthians 16:2). Our salvation is in his resurrection (1 Peter 3:21). Our transformation is through resurrection (1 Corinthians 15:42). Our message is resurrection (1 Corinthians 15:12). Our power is in his resurrection (Philippians 3:10). Our hope is in resurrection (1 Peter 1:3). There is nothing about the church that is not founded upon, explained by, or empowered by the death and resurrection of Jesus.
As we pursue our mission as the church, the body of Christ (1 Corinthians 12:27), we not only acknowledge his resurrection, we depend on it; we are changed by it; we are compelled by it. Knowing this to be true, anticipating our annual celebration of Jesus’ resurrection, we should also be living by his resurrection every day. Peter describes what that life is like: joy despite suffering (1 Peter 1:6); genuine faith (1:7); praise and glory to God through testing (1:7); love (1:8); and salvation (1:9). Certainly, we must not reserve the celebration of these things through Jesus’ death and resurrection for one day each year. We should celebrate daily, when we gather as the church, when we celebrate the Lord’s Supper, when we read the Word, when we approach God in prayer, when he guides and protects us through tests and suffering. This is how we can, as Peter told the church in 1 Peter 3:15, “Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope you have.” This is how we stay on mission through the resurrection.