The Missing Piece, Part 2

Today I was thinking about the day after Jesus’ resurrection. Some people think He went directly back to heaven. But the Bible is clear - He stayed here on Planet Earth for 40 days, and more than 500 people saw Him. He presented himself alive to them after his suffering by many proofs, appearing to them during forty days and speaking about the kingdom of God (Acts 1:3; cf. 1 Corinthians 15:5-8).

But what was that first Monday like? I know as a pastor I’m usually exhausted after Easter Sunday, and all I did was preach. Christ’s weekend started with a stressful, sleepless night, and went downhill from there. In the space of three days He was betrayed by one of His closest friends, deserted by the rest of them, and tortured by His enemies. He bore all the sins of all God’s people throughout time, and experienced the wrath and judicial abandonment of His Father. And then He died.

So the day after, after He rose again in triumph, I wonder if He didn’t simply rest. But Scripture does not give us those details.

What it does give us, though, is the sweeping confidence that Christ’s resurrection is the seal of approval, the great proof that God’s plan of redemption worked.

Last time I compared the resurrection to “the missing piece” of a puzzle, and began a short journey through the book of Romans. Here’s part two.

Romans 7:4 Likewise, my brothers, you also have died to the law through the body of Christ, so that you may belong to another, to him who has been raised from the dead, in order that we may bear fruit for God. Before you become a Christian, you're really the property of Satan. But our Savior's death and resurrection bought us freedom, and we became His. We have a new life, and the proof of that new life is "fruit." 

Romans 8:11 If the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, he who raised Christ Jesus from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through his Spirit who dwells in you. Here a clue to our eternal destiny - not just immortality, but a new body, a resurrection, like our Savior's!

Romans 8:34 Who is to condemn? Christ Jesus is the one who died—more than that, who was raised—who is at the right hand of God, who indeed is interceding for us. Jesus’ victory over death and hell and sin and Satan isn’t the end of His ministry for His people. He was raised up, and now He continues to pray for His people. If you’re one of His, Jesus is praying for you!

Romans 10:9-10 If you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved. The resurrection of Jesus is the key to everything, starting with our salvation. (If you're not sure about your own relationship to the Savior, here's a quick summary.)

Romans 14:9 For to this end Christ died and lived again, that he might be Lord both of the dead and of the living. Jesus’ death and resurrection puts Him in charge of everything and everyone. He is King of all Kings, Lord of all Lords, and in the end, He is judge over all humanity.

We don't know what the Monday after Easter Sunday was like for our Savior. But every Monday from now on can be a day of peace and hope and victory for you and me, because - and I hope we never take it for granted - He is risen, risen indeed!