Chris is risen from the dead! Blessed is the resurrection of the Lord!
There’s no more beautiful greeting than these miraculous words of recognition announcing the messianic peace. It’s a joyful and delightful feast celebrating victory over evil. Sin, lurking at the door, hungry to seize the Holy One of God, has been washed away with the blood of the New Covenant, and the scheming and plotting against him have been overturned. The evil forces attempted to kill the Prince of Life, and for a moment, they believed they had succeeded in eliminating the voice inviting them to righteousness and grace. However, they discovered that it was impossible to strangle words of life.
Two thousand years ago, the Jewish culture, expecting a political Messiah-King to liberate the People of the Covenant, had corrupted the genuine understanding of the original divine prophecy of salvation by incorporating human materialistic categories. Consequently, no one was prepared to comprehend the promise of salvation in terms of the Heavenly Father’s kingdom. As a result, they failed to grasp the teachings of Jesus or the parables he used as illustrations of this new kingdom. This was particularly evident when Jesus emphasized that the nature of this kingdom and his reign were not of this world.
During his earthly ministry, Jesus sought to convey the kingdom of his Heavenly Father using relatable imagery and examples for his audience. He likened the kingdom to a precious pearl, emphasizing its immense value and the willingness to sacrifice one’s life to acquire it. Jesus hoped his listeners would grasp the symbolism and apply it appropriately. However, the physical allure of the pearl’s beauty captivated our human perspective, overshadowing our spiritual nature and leading us astray from heaven towards earthly concerns.
We became entangled in the web of worldly distractions. As Jesus himself repeatedly stated, he is not of this world. He came to this world to reveal the existence of sin, injustice, and evil (John 16:8-11). In contrast, individuals of this world deny the existence of evil, relying on their own power and authority, believing their laws to be just and righteous (Mark 10:42-43). However, the new law of God’s kingdom is fundamentally different. It embodies the principles of meekness and service, even to the point of sacrificing one’s own life (Mark 10:45).
The most profound reality of this truth is the resurrection of Jesus. The Apostles and his disciples were the witnesses to His resurrection. They had been with Jesus, listened to His teachings, and learned from their divine Teacher the significance of staying in the Lord, the vine that nourishes the branches through the abundant flow of the sap of the Holy Spirit, and enjoying the care and pruning of the Father. After all, we cannot accomplish anything without our Lord Jesus Christ (John 15:1-5).
On this day, filled with the life of the Lord’s Resurrection, let us greet each other with the intention of staying in the Lord. May His divine life fill us and, through us, spread throughout the entire world.
