Our Living Lord

Romans 8:34 Who is he that condemneth? It is Christ that died, yea rather, that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us.

On Easter Sunday my temptation is to try to be profound. After all, this is the day the most people come to church. Except at college churches. The fact is that the simple message itself is beyond enlarging. And that simple truth is encapsulated in this one verse:

I. JESUS DIED . . .

With every other person who was ever born it would be a great wonder if they did not die; with Jesus it is truly remarkable that He did die. By His own words (John 10:18) "No man taketh my life from Me, but I lay it down of My own accord." And then— "Father, Into Thy hands I commend my spirit."

  1. Christ's death was a triumph of love. "Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends." (John 15:13)
  2. Christ's death was a mighty, effective redemption. "By His own blood he entered in once into the holy place, having obtained eternal redemption for us." (Hebrews 9:12)

But the text goes on:

II. JESUS ROSE AGAIN . . .

This is the most incontrovertible fact in all of history. The disciples believed Jesus was alive again. And people do not martyr themselves for lies and deception.

  1. His rising was a PERSONAL triumph. It was a vindication of His integrity. He was who He said He was! As Peter said on the day of Pentecost: "It was impossible that death should hold Him!" (Acts 2:24)
  2. But His rising is also a triumph for the whole human race (a whole NEW race! "But now is Christ risen from the dead and become the first fruits of them that slept." (I Corinthians 15:20)

(Transition:) But this triumph is not just sometime in the dim future when we die, for:

III. JESUS ASCENDED TO GLORY . . .

  1. Jesus came to do a task. He came to defeat sin, to destroy the works of darkness and hell; and having finished that task He assumed again the glory that was rightfully His.

    "I have finished the work which Thou gavest Me to do. And now, O Father, glorify Thou Me with Thine own Self with the glory which I had with Thee before the world was." (John 17:4-5)

  2. This dazzling brilliance is hard for us to comprehend! The risen Lord is still the same Jesus—yet He is somehow gloriously different!
    1. He must be spiritually revealed/discerned: Mary, Peter, Cleopas, Upper Room
    2. He is awesome, even to the beloved disciple (Revelation 1:8.17)

But perhaps best of all:

IV. JESUS MAKES INTERCESSION FOR YOU . . .

In this glory and power at the center of the Universe, this risen Christ is now engaged in His great work.

  1. Jesus is forever identified with us. He became like us so that we may be like Him. "Beloved NOW are we the sons of God, ... we know that when He shall appear we shall be like Him." (I John 3:2)
  2. At the throne we are loved! Romans 8:35 (the next verse after our text) asks: "Who shall separate us from the love of Christ?" (Friends are not easily offended!)
  3. And we are prayed for at the Throne!" Not just in our hour of death . . . (which is in itself wonderful) . . . but power over spiritual death and separation.

Conclusion

Because Jesus lives, we have all that we need in order to live in the power of the Resurrection here and now! These are the simple, profound facts of Easter: Jesus DIED, Jesus is RISEN, Jesus is SEATED IN GLORY, and Jesus MAKES INTERCESSION FOR US so that nothing can ever separate us from His love.

But the simple truth of Easter is not just something we "learn;" it is a Person we RECEIVE!

  1. If we will receive Him, Jesus will personally reveal Himself to each of us:
  2. He will forgive our sin and our rebellion;
  3. He will assure us of eternal life; and
  4. He will unfold His will in the living out of His grace.

Prayer

Worthy is the Lamb! Blessing, and honor, and glory, and power be unto him that sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb for ever and ever. . . Amen!

EH #36 Alleluia! Alleluia!