Devotional 4-8-12

“Christ Jesus lay in death’s strong bands for our offenses given.
But now at God’s right hand he stands, and brings us life from heaven.
Wherefore let us joyful be, and sing to God right thankfully
Loud songs of Alleluia!  Alleluia!”

I love this hymn.  The poetry is that of Martin Luther, composed in the 16^th century.  The music is a 16^th century chorale, harmonized by J. S. Bach in the 18^th century.  It captures the struggle between death and life, between sin and redemption.  We know the end of the story:  life wins; redemption wins.

“It was a strange and dreadful strife when life and death contended;

The victory remained with life; the reign of death was ended.
Stripped of power, no more it reigns, an empty form alone remains;
Death’s sting is lost for forever!  Alleluia!”

The cynic who discounts the resurrection as fable might find a “gold mine” of argument in the conflicting recollections among the gospel writers that raise understandable suspicion about the evidences of Jesus’ resurrection.  Can’t these writers get their stories straight?  

While the evidences recorded by gospel writers between 40 and 90 years after the time of Christ are different, they offer the same truth, pointing to the same risen Christ.  Frankly, does it really matter that the stories are not in precise agreement?  I believe there is a much greater, stronger, and more important evidence that Jesus lives, and that evidence is within our lives. 

When others see you where you live, work, learn, worship, or play, what evidence do they see?  In the conduct of your life, do others find no evidence of a living Christ in you – that it appears you believe Jesus is dead, his teachings irrelevant, and sin and death are victors?  Or do they see evidence of a living Christ of compassion and redemption? 

“So let us keep the festival whereto the Lord invites us;
Christ is himself the joy of all, the Sun that warms and lights us.
By his grace he doth impart eternal sunshine to the heart;
The night of sin is ended!  Alleluia!

“Then let us feast this Easter day on the true bread of heaven;

The Word of grace hath purged away the old and wicked leaven.
Christ alone our souls will feed; he is our meat and drink indeed;
Faith lives upon no other!  Alleluia!”

Will you pray with me;  Loving and gracious God:  on this joyous day of celebration, may I look to the risen Christ with a new eye toward evaluating whether my life contributes to the evidence that Jesus is alive in our world.  Let my life reflect sacrificial living for the cause of Christ and the joyous living of his teachings.  In the name of the risen Christ.  Amen.

Rev. Jack Lipphardt