Sunday: Rejoicing in the Resurrection
Daily Lesson for Sunday 22nd of September 2024
Read Mark 15:42-47; Mark 16:1-6. What happens here, and why is this story so relevant to the resurrection narrative?
All the Gospel writers agree that Jesus died on the day that they identify as the “preparation” (Matthew 27:62; Mark 15:42; Luke 23:54; John 19:14,31,42). Most commentators understand this as a reference to sunset Thursday through sunset Friday. Jesus died late on Friday afternoon and was then quickly buried before sunset.
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During the Sabbath, the Lord rested in the grave, and all of Jesus’ disciples rested, as well. “And they rested on the Sabbath according to the commandment” (Luke 23:56, NKJV), a rather strange action if, in fact, Jesus had lessened, at least in their minds, the obligation to keep the fourth commandment.
On Saturday night, the women bought spices, and on Sunday morning, they went to the tomb with the desire to complete the typical burial process. Of course, Jesus was not there!
As early as the second century, Christians saw significance in the fact that Jesus rose on Sunday. This became the basis for Sunday sacredness. But is that what the New Testament teaches?
Read Colossians 2:10-12. What is the New Testament memorial of Jesus’ resurrection?
Not a word in the Bible hints at Sunday sacredness as a memorial of the Resurrection. That memorial is baptism. “Therefore we were buried with Him through baptism into death, that just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life” (Romans 6:4, NKJV).
Regardless of the false theology regarding Sunday worship, as Adventists we must rejoice in the Sunday morning resurrection of Jesus. Jesus has triumphed over death, and in His resurrection, we have the surety of ours.
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“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His abundant mercy has begotten us again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead” (1 Peter 1:3, NKJV). Look at the certainty Paul had about the resurrection of Jesus. How can we have that certainty, as well? |
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Some Christian Churches make quite a feature of celebrating the resurrection of Jesus. Easter Sunday is often regarded as a special day. And the whole idea of Sunday worship is based on the day of resurrection. Further, there are a couple of competing sites in Jerusalem, which, depending on which Christian group you belong to are regarded as Jesus' tomb.
Christianity is not really about the veneration of events. I have seen arguments put forward against Christianity because we do not know the exact date when Jesus was born or crucified. Such arguments miss the point that Christianity is not vindicated by celebrating critical events at the right time. Christianity is a living thing.
Even Isaiah understood this and recorded this message from God:
He goes on to say what our religion should look like:
The real celebration of the resurrection of Jesus is that we honour him by caring for one another. We lift the risen Saviour up when we lift one another up.