Is it any wonder as Jesus walked down the Mount of Olives on his last trip into the city, he stopped and wept? He was going there to die for all of humanity, and most would reject him—and most still do.
But here’s the good news! Reject him or not, Jesus is the Lord of All and he was resurrected for all. And that’s why we celebrate. Not just because he was resurrected for you and me, but because he was resurrected for every believer and nonbeliever, for every slave and free, for every Jew and Gentile, for every man and woman. Easter reminds us that Jesus—the Son of God—our Redeemer and Savior—went to the cross for all and was resurrected for all.
The death and resurrection of Jesus Christ shows the profoundness of God’s love. Some call it reckless, some call it preposterous, some call it radical, Paul said it comes across to others as foolishness. Why would God die for people who don’t even acknowledge his presence? For the same reason he died for all those who do acknowledge his presence—because God loves all his children; Jesus came for all.
The apostle Paul is talking about the resurrection of Jesus when he says:
For since death came through a man, the resurrection of the dead comes also through a man. For as in Adam all die, so in Christ all will be made alive. 1 Corinthians 15:21-22
All will be made alive! Loved ones, what if we lived like it was true? Let’s make Easter more than a season of celebration; let’s make it a season of change.
Thank you, Father, Son, and Spirit, that Easter changed everything! Praise God that here is no longer Jew nor Gentile, slave nor free, male nor female. Jesus, you have made us one. Help us to see this truth more clearly. Help us to respond accordingly—with a bit less judgment, a bit less animosity at times, a bit more compassion, and a lot more understanding. God, help us to follow the new commandment—to love others as you love us. Amen.
This devotion is an excerpt of the Equipper sermon for April 21, 2019.
