6. He Is Risen Indeed UPD
Thank you for showing us what is true. Thank you for being our bridge, our Savior, and the way to eternal life in a world you will renew. This Easter, and all year, will you keep the flame of my joy for you burning? Will you remind me when things look bleak that you raise what may seem dead? Help me to not just hear that you are risen, but let me believe it in my bones, that because you are risen, indeed, we have a hope and a future worth celebrating.
6. He is Risen Indeed
In the Latin Church the traditional greeting on Easter morning and throughout the entire Easter week is: Christus surréxit! - Surréxit vere, allelúja. ("Christ is risen" - "He is risen indeed. Alleluia!"). This ancient phrase echoes the greeting of the angel to Mary Magdalene, to Mary the mother of James, and to Joseph, as they arrived at the sepulchre to anoint the body of Jesus: "He is not here; for he has risen, as he said" (Matt 28:6). [1] It is used among Catholics when meeting one another during Eastertide; some even answer their telephones with the phrase.
O Death, where is your sting? O Hell, where is your victory? Christ is risen, and you are overthrown. Christ is risen, and the demons are fallen. Christ is risen, and the angels rejoice. Christ is risen, and life reigns. Christ is risen, and not one dead remains in the grave. For Christ, being risen from the dead, is become the first fruits of those who have fallen asleep. To Him be glory and dominion unto ages of ages. Amen.
THE first day of the week commemorates the resurrection of Christ, and, following apostolical example, we have made the first day of the week to be our Sabbath. Does not this intimate to us that the rest of our souls is to be found in the resurrection of our Saviour? Is it not true that a clear understanding of the rising again of our Lord is, through the power of the Holy Spirit, the very surest means of bringing our minds into peace? To have a part in the resurrection of Christ is to enjoy that Sabbath which remaineth for the people of God. We who have believed in the risen Lord do enter into rest, even as he also himself is resting at the right hand of the Father. In him we rest because his work is finished, his resurrection being the pledge that he has perfected all that is needful for the salvation of his people, and we are complete in him. I trust this morning that some restful thoughts may, by the power of the Holy Spirit, be sown in the minds of believers while we make a pilgrimage to the new tomb of Joseph of Arimathea, and see the place where the Lord lay.
This dynamic Easter hymn from the Getty writing group offers an unforgettable Celtic celebration. Joel Raney creatively sets up the opening with a hint of the traditional spiritual He Never Said a Mumblin' Word. Then it moves into a faster Irish style for the Getty hymn that joyously proclaims the risen Lord. With great rhythmic excitement, it draws to a close with a reference to the EASTER HYMN. Optional violin (or C-Instrument) and rhythm add to the excitement.
HE IS RISEN! HE IS RISEN INDEED! I welcome you as we join with all the churches around the world in celebrating the empty tomb, the resurrection of Jesus Christ. Everything that Christians believe hinges on the fact that Christ is risen from the dead. Our belief in this simple Easter story and trust in the One who is risen gives us Life, Joy, Hope, and Restoration! As we celebrate today, let us also remember that we are called to commit ourselves to the truth and the fellowship (Acts 2:42). At The Well Church, truth is proclaimed on Sundays and fellowship is observed at our Life Groups. If you do not belong to a Life Group, would you consider joining one of the many groups offered at The Well Church today? You can signup by emailing me. Let us be the church God has called us to be and experience his resurrection power in our lives. HE IS RISEN! HE IS RISEN, INDEED!
When they arrived there, the tomb was already open. The large stone that had blocked the entrance had been rolled aside. An angel spoke to the women, saying, "Do not be afraid! I know that you seek Jesus who was crucified. He is not here; for He is risen, as He said." Quickly they ran back to tell the Apostles the news. But they refused to believe them at first. On the contrary, they thought their words were nothing more than idle tales!
Nevertheless, Peter and John decided that they wanted to go see for themselves, and hurried to the tomb. And indeed: Jesus was not there. The tomb was empty. Holy Scripture states: "For as yet they did not know the Scripture, that He must rise again from the dead."
To this day, people have difficulty believing in the resurrection of the Lord. Already very early on at the start of the Christian church, for instance in the congregation of Corinth, doubts began to arise. Paul writes exhaustively on the subject of the resurrection. He says that without the resurrection, the entire Christian faith would be meaningless. "However," he concludes, "because Christ is risen, those who belong to Him will also be able to resurrect!" Belief in the resurrection of Jesus Christ constitutes the foundation of our faith and is the very heart of the gospel.
There is great cause for belief in the Resurrection. One of the most wonderful tenets of Catholicism and the true Christian religion the Church transmits, is that the Resurrection is a historical event. We do not believe Christ is resurrected only because we are told he is, nor only because we read of his rising from the dead in Sacred Scripture; we believe the Lord is risen because we were witnesses as a people to this profound, singularly unique and life changing event, and because Christ -- who is God-made-man -- revealed himself to us as the Risen Lord.
Another element we should not overlook, one which is often incorrectly perceived as an obstacle, is that the Resurrection is a fantastic event. The historicity of the gospels, the fact that the risen Christ appeared to "more than five hundred brethren at one time" (1 Cor 15:6), the emphasis on the Resurrection in many places in the New Testament, and the constant teaching of the Church attesting to the reality of the Resurrection are not enough for many people. That we will one day rise from the dead is simply too much for some to accept. However, people of faith know all things are possible for God (Mt 19:26). God keeps his promises.
There is great cause for belief in the Resurrection. One of the most wonderful tenets of Catholicism and the true Christian religion the Church transmits, is that the Resurrection is a historical event. We do not believe Christ is resurrected only because we are told he is, nor only because we read of his rising from the dead in Sacred Scripture; we believe the Lord is risen because we were witnesses as a people to this profound, singularly unique and life changing event, and because Christ -- who is God-made-man -- revealed himself to us as the Risen Lord. The living community of the Church witnessed the resurrection of Jesus Christ at a particular period in our history. We are a people who have seen the Resurrection. The Resurrection is, then, a historical fact.
Pope Francis reminds us that the hope of the resurrection and the joy it brings is uncontainable. To be Christian is to live for the resurrection and let that promise radiate outward in our lives, infusing those around us with the same hope that fills our hearts. Through the Resurrection and Christ's gift of his Spirit, we are empowered, re-created and made into a new people. We have been given a new life! The Lord is risen; indeed, he is risen!
Though there was a period of disbelief, reality eventually sunk in. This actually ended after Jesus appeared in the midst of the disciples with Thomas who voiced what others were probably wondering. But they all came to believe and live out their lives proclaiming the risen Lord. 041b061a72