This blog quotes my book Visions of the Church, at pages 169-170. It is the section titled “The Truth of Easter” in the Chapter “Preparing to Leave Earth Orbit”. (The book uses the flight of Apollo 13 as the narrative thread to summarize two thousand years of Church history in a mere 60 pages.)

I like to quote the following passage from the Truth of Easter to help people who are in the Valley of the Shadow of Death, including now when we are in the midst of a global pandemic:

The truth of Easter is that we need no longer fear death. We should weep at the tombs of those we love just as Jesus wept at the tomb of Lazarus (John 11:35). However, we should not grieve like those who have no hope (1 Thessalonians 4:13). For we believe that we shall meet again with those who have fallen asleep in Jesus. We will laugh with them again. We will hug them again (1 Thessalonians 4:13-18).

As first published in 2004:

The truth of Easter is that Jesus rose from the dead. And although this historical fact seems impossible, it is nevertheless true. How can it be? Because what is impossible with humans is possible with God.

The truth of Easter is that our sins are forgiven. On the Cross, Jesus bore the punishment for our sins. Now, instead of suffering eternal death, we can enjoy eternal life. And because our sins are forgiven by God and forgotten by God, we can forget what is behind and press on toward what is ahead: “the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 3:13-14, KJV).

The truth of Easter is that we need no longer fear death. We should weep at the tombs of those we love just as Jesus wept at the tomb of Lazarus (John 11:35). However, we should not grieve like those who have no hope (1 Thessalonians 4:13). For we believe that we shall meet again with those who have fallen asleep in Jesus. We will laugh with them again. We will hug them again (1 Thessalonians 4:13-18).

The truth of Easter is that there is always hope (Job 14:7). No matter how much it looks as if we have failed. No matter how much it looks as if evil has triumphed. There is still hope. Therefore, we must still keep the faith (2 Timothy 4:7). We must still keep loving (Matthew 24:12-13). Because, in God’s good time and in God’s good way, God will bring good from evil (Genesis 50:19-20; Exodus 7:3-5), healing from suffering (Job 42:1-6; Isaiah 53:4-5, 10-12), and life from death (Ezekiel 37:1-14; 1 Corinthians 15:12-26). How?

Although this is impossible for humans, it is possible for God. For “in all things God works for the good of those who love him” (Romans 8:28). Nothing “shall separate us from the love of Christ.” Not “trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword” (Romans 8:35). “[I]n all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For . . . neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” (Romans 8:37-39).

The truth of Easter gives joy to the world—joy for all Humanity!

READ MORE

To read why I believe Jesus rose from the dead, please read the chapters “Caiaphas and Pilate Ensure No One Can Steal Jesus’ Body” and “God the Father Resurrects His Son, Jesus Christ” in my book Hoping in the LORD, at pages 297-308.

To read about the effect of the Resurrection of Jesus on his followers, please read the chapters “As Mary Cries, Jesus Comes and Calls Her by Name”, “A Healthy Jesus Walks to Emmaus”, “Jesus Tells the Disciples, ‘Peace Be with You!’”, “Jesus Overcomes the Doubts of Doubting Thomas”, and “Jesus Encourages Peter to Take Care of His Sheep” in my book Hoping in the LORD, at pages 309-333.