The Resurrection: Putting everything in order.

But in fact Christ has been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep. For as by a man came death, by a man has come also the resurrection of the dead. For as in Adam all die, so also in Christ shall all be made alive. But each in his own order: Christ the firstfruits, then at his coming those who belong to Christ. Then comes the end, when he delivers the kingdom to God the Father after destroying every rule and every authority and power. For he must reign until he has put all his enemies under his feet. The last enemy to be destroyed is death. For “God has put all things in subjection under his feet.” But when it says, “all things are put in subjection,” it is plain that he is excepted who put all things in subjection under him. When all things are subjected to him, then the Son himself will also be subjected to him who put all things in subjection under him, that God may be all in all. (1 Corinthians 15:20-28 ESV)
The resurrection resolves creation's biggest crisis; reversing the Fall.  Rebellion against God left a downward spiral of death and separation from God.  Resurrection brings back life and submission under God.  When Christ rose, He set in motion that reversal in an orderly fashion. First, He was now ready to return to His Father.  He brings with Him those who are His, as their victorious King.  The last Enemy He will defeat is death. He will then pass everything over to His Father, and all will be as it should be.  Paul's big point is how essential Christ's resurrection and our resurrection are to making sense of how God will restore all things.  Without the resurrection we are hopeless.

Pathetic Faith...

Now if Christ is proclaimed as raised from the dead, how can some of you say that there is no resurrection of the dead? But if there is no resurrection of the dead, then not even Christ has been raised. And if Christ has not been raised, then our preaching is in vain and your faith is in vain. We are even found to be misrepresenting God, because we testified about God that he raised Christ, whom he did not raise if it is true that the dead are not raised. For if the dead are not raised, not even Christ has been raised. And if Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile and you are still in your sins. Then those also who have fallen asleep in Christ have perished. If in Christ we have hope in this life only, we are of all people most to be pitied.
(1 Corinthians 15:12-19 ESV)
What difference does the Resurrection of Christ make?  Hopefully that question has not been cleared out of our hearts and minds like clearance Easter candy at the store.  Paul attacks that question by all sorts of questions about the opposite: What if Christ has not risen from the dead? If not, all of us who preach He is are liars and crooks.  If He is not, any faith in anything Christ did ( like forgiving sin) is a pipe dream.  If He did not rise, all those precious grandparents who died believing He did, are just that: dead.  If we have no hope of life to come, this life ends up being pretty pathetic also.  He is risen; yes, He is risen indeed, and it makes all the difference today and for eternity.

More evidence...

...and that he appeared to Cephas, then to the twelve. Then he appeared to more than five hundred brothers at one time, most of whom are still alive, though some have fallen asleep. Then he appeared to James, then to all the apostles. Last of all, as to one untimely born, he appeared also to me. For I am the least of the apostles, unworthy to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God. But by the grace of God I am what I am, and his grace toward me was not in vain. On the contrary, I worked harder than any of them, though it was not I, but the grace of God that is with me. Whether then it was I or they, so we preach and so you believed. (1 Corinthians 15:5-11 ESV)
When investigators look into allegations, they want to see evidence, not just opinion.
In looking into the reported resurrection of Christ, Paul, Luke and others found many witnesses, which is usually more compelling than any other evidence. Paul himself was a big piece of evidence. Having been one who sought to stamp out the followers of the risen Christ, he became one of them. The transformation was more than 180 degrees. It turned him away from confronting them to leading them, and turning many toward God. The bottom line here was to not forget what you have believed, to not turn away from it to doubts and depraved living. The facts are still the facts; Christ has risen; He is our only hope.

Easter: More than a day...

Now I would remind you, brothers, of the gospel I preached to you, which you received, in which you stand, and by which you are being saved, if you hold fast to the word I preached to you—unless you believed in vain. For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received: that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures, (1 Corinthians 15:1-4 ESV)
Like many "holidays" or holy days, we have such a build up to it, there seems to be a letdown after Resurrection Sunday. But that contradicts the very fact we celebrate. It is a new beginning, a celebration of new life in Christ. We must remember, every day, that Christ is still risen, and that is the solid rock foundation we have to live His life. Let's not forget! He is risen to give us life!

The Resurrection: Reality Hits Home

So they drew near to the village to which they were going. He acted as if he were going farther, but they urged him strongly, saying, “Stay with us, for it is toward evening and the day is now far spent.” So he went in to stay with them. When he was at table with them, he took the bread and blessed and broke it and gave it to them. And their eyes were opened, and they recognized him. And he vanished from their sight. They said to each other, “Did not our hearts burn within us while he talked to us on the road, while he opened to us the Scriptures?” And they rose that same hour and returned to Jerusalem. And they found the eleven and those who were with them gathered together, saying, “The Lord has risen indeed, and has appeared to Simon!” Then they told what had happened on the road, and how he was known to them in the breaking of the bread.  (Luke 24:28-35 ESV)
The Gospels record a number of resurrection appearances for us. Each one, in its own way, tells us how it "hit home" for those involved: Mary falls before Jesus; the ten are overwhelmed; Thomas ends his doubt; Peter makes the commitment of a lifetime.  Here, these two share together in the most stimulating conversation imaginable, and entertain the Risen Christ.  It hits home in their home. They have not heartburn, but burning hearts - that physical/mental/spiritual experience that only one thing can bring - being face to face with the Risen Lord. May His Resurrection hit home in our hearts and lives today.

A Restless Rest

Now there was a man named Joseph, from the Jewish town of Arimathea. He was a member of the council, a good and righteous man, who had not consented to their decision and action; and he was looking for the kingdom of God. This man went to Pilate and asked for the body of Jesus. Then he took it down and wrapped it in a linen shroud and laid him in a tomb cut in stone, where no one had ever yet been laid. It was the day of Preparation, and the Sabbath was beginning. The women who had come with him from Galilee followed and saw the tomb and how his body was laid. Then they returned and prepared spices and ointments.
On the Sabbath they rested according to the commandment. (Luke 23:50-56 ESV)
The Sabbath.  Created by God to appreciate Him, His creation, and our relationship with Him. But this was no normal Sabbath.  The chief priests were antsy; the women were prepared burial spices; the apostles were cowering in fear. No one was going anywhere. It was the Sabbath. The day made by God for rest was restless. People wondering and worrying, but not wandering anywhere, because it was the Sabbath, and no one could go far.  They had to wait and see what would happen.  Easter Eve has such a different feel than Christmas Eve.  Restlessness waiting for revelry to be played.  We have such a better view, knowing how it all turns out.  But may there be a healthy restlessness in our hearts, because things are not yet as they shall be, as they should be, until He returns.

Do we hear what we are saying?

When day came, the assembly of the elders of the people gathered together, both chief priests and scribes. And they led him away to their council, and they said, “If you are the Christ, tell us.” But he said to them, “If I tell you, you will not believe, and if I ask you, you will not answer. But from now on the Son of Man shall be seated at the right hand of the power of God.” So they all said, “Are you the Son of God, then?” And he said to them, “You say that I am.” Then they said, “What further testimony do we need? We have heard it ourselves from his own lips.”
(Luke 22:66-71 ESV)
What a way to start the day! That first "Good Friday" morning began with Jesus being faced with charges of blasphemy for proclaiming to be the Son of God.  He right points out that these accusers had come to that conclusion. The real matter was: were they willing to respond appropriately to Him? Throughout this holy weekend, we will hear and repeat many words, be it in reading scripture, singing songs, or hearing statements by others.  Will those words sink in and take hold? Will we put two and two together? If Jesus is the Son of God (and He is!), then what authority does He deserve in my life?  As we picture Him today on the cross, why do we think He is there? Is it for my sin as the Sinless sacrifice? What response is "only right" to such a Substitute?  We will say it. Will we live it?