good sunday

Early on the first day of the week, something spectacular happened. The large stone which blocked the entrance to Jesus’ tomb had been rolled out of the way. The sepulcher in which the deceased Jesus had been placed was suddenly unoccupied. There were reports that Jesus had been seen alive, and then he actually appeared to a number of reliable observers.

Jesus had overcome the grave. Somehow, death had been conquered. In some unimaginable fashion, our worst enemy had been defeated. Jesus was alive.

Of course one of the things that strikes me about the whole scene is the oddness of it all. The first eyewitnesses must have thought something like, “This is great! He’s with us again!” But then, after a little reflection, they would have had to come to grips with the entire ordeal, wondering why someone with the capacity to conquer death would have had to die in the first place. I mean, if the grave can’t hold him, why did he succumb to it at all? The answer, once again, is quite simple. He died on purpose for us.

But the death alone was not enough, for who would have known that Jesus’ death actually accomplished anything? You can claim that someone’s crucifixion has universal significance, but talk is cheap. What you need is a demonstrate. What you need is a resurrection.

Jesus’ resurrection confirms that his death had saving value. What he did at Golgotha (the Place of the Skull) was established at the empty tomb. Indeed, it is right to say that the events of Sunday make clear that the events of Friday were indeed good (for us). We learn of the goodness of Good Friday through the occurrence of a miraculous Sunday. Peering through the lens of the resurrection, we learn (among other things) that the previous Friday really was good, the cross actually accomplished something amazing.

The death of Jesus was not only necessary but incredible. In Jesus’ death our wrongs, our imperfections, our stupidity, our rebellion was once for all absorbed. As a result, we can now connect with God and with our created purpose. The resurrection of Jesus put into the effect the death of Jesus. Because he is alive, we can know him.