Two Days in One

What a jarring juxtaposition:  this Sunday will be both Easter and April Fool’s Day.  Talk about two celebrations moving in different directions!  What are we supposed to do with that kind of overlap?

I like the story of a BBC news radio report on April 1, 1976, explain­ing that the alignment of two planets would, at 9:47 a.m. that day, produce a gravitational effect such that, if you jumped up at just that moment, you’d begin to float.  I can picture the public trying it out!

There are so many prank stories.  And why not have a moment on the calendar when we get light-hearted and go for a good laugh?  But at the same time, why not also let this sharp contrast of the trivial with the profound highlight how weighty our special days can be?

And what’s more weighty than life-and-death?  What’s more pro­found than the fact of Jesus’ resurrection from the dead?

So, just what does the resurrection of Christ “say”?  It says:

• Jesus’ substitutionary death was sufficient.  His resurrection was the period at the end of our death sentence.  As long as Jesus remained in the tomb, the holy and just wrath of God remained unsatisfied.  In fact, if Jesus were still in the grave, we’d have to conclude that his entire salvation project was a failure, because a dead Jesus is a Jesus who goes on suf­fer­ing the punishment for our sin. “If Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile; you are still in your sins” (1 Cor 15:17).  But give thanks:  Jesus “was delivered over to death for our sins and was raised to life for our justification” (Rom 4:25).
• Our resurrection is sure to come.  Jesus’ rising from the dead is both an event in history and a promise of a grand future event.  “But in fact Christ has been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep” (1 Cor 15:20). “Firstfruits” means that first ear of grain in the field that ripens, giving proof that the great, general harvest is soon to come.  “Those who belong to Christ” (v 23) will be clothed in resurrection bodies and enter into the fullness of eternal life, and we’ll be with the Lord forever.

So this Sunday, let’s worship:  Christ the Lord is risen today.  Alleluia!