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Indeed.

March 23rd, 2008 | 2 min read

By Matthew Lee Anderson

Note: Rather than pen new completely new thoughts this year, I thought I would revise this post from Easter 2007.

He is risen.

Among the litany of thoughts that will doubtlessly be posted this Easter Sunday, I offer only this brief addition.

It is in the resurrection of Jesus Christ that we live, move and have our being. The Christ of history, the Christ who lived, died and rose on the third day, is the Christ in whom our lives are hidden.

The unique and irreplaceable truth of Christianity is that our salvation, our strength, our goodness lie not in us, but outside of us. Death, sin, and evil are overcome by the inward working of God in us as we fix our eyes and mind on Him.And what we find when we look toward Him in whom we live is foundational affirmation and inclusion into the covenant–“And all the promises of God are ‘yes’ and ‘amen’ to the Glory of God.” The Resurrection, which we celebrate this day, is the overwhelming ‘yes’ from God that restores not only our own lives, but someday will complete the renewing of the cosmos.

Finding our life in Christ, however, hardly frees us from responsibility. Rather, we are called to carry a burden too heavy for most of us–the burden of a joy we did not earn, and that we do not deserve. It is understandable that many reject this joy. Our capacity for such joy is so small–our ability to celebrate so stunted. And the resurrection of our Lord is ultimately a call to celebrate the power, the love, and the joy of God–to join with Him in saying “yes” and “amen” to his covenants and creation, to celebrate His glorious faithfulness. When we echo back our “yes” to God–“Glory to God in the highest!”–we abide in the resurrected Lord, and partake of his glory. It is a difficult burden–who can bear it except by His grace.

This Easter, as you find your life in the Christ who has overcome sin, death, and the Law, take up the cross of joy that you did not earn and life that you do not deserve. Evermore, Lord, help us have the joy that you have in Heaven and hid from us on earth. Amen.

Matthew Lee Anderson

Matthew Lee Anderson is an Associate Professor of Ethics and Theology in Baylor University's Honors College. He has a D.Phil. in Christian Ethics from Oxford University, and is a Perpetual Member of Biola University's Torrey Honors College. In 2005, he founded Mere Orthodoxy.