Holy Week Reflection #6

Last year Coram Deo sent a team of people to Austin, Texas, to plant Providence Church. Jeff Lark is an Austin resident and longtime Campus Crusade staff member who is part of the launch team for Providence. This week, Jeff is writing daily reflections on the final week of Jesus' life. With his permission, I'm posting them here as well.

Reflection #6: He's (We’re) Not Dead

...having been buried with him in baptism, in which you were also raised with him through faith in the powerful working of God, who raised him from the dead. (Col. 2:12)Saturday must have been a dismal day for the disciples.  Three years wasted. Kingdom aspirations down the drain. Embarrassment… depression… hopelessness… not wanting to show their faces.  But, everything changed Sunday - more than they could have imagined.It wasn’t that the resurrection saved face.  And, it wasn’t that the resurrection provided them with the grit and determination to show the world that they were right all along.  Instead, the resurrection provided life – resurrected-power life.Co-resurrection is the essence of Easter.  He’s been resurrected… I’ve been resurrected.  He’s been raised and seated… I’ve been raised and seated with him.  He’s conquered death… death has lost its sting in me.  He overcame the corruption of death… the corruption of death has been overcome in me.   He was raised in power… I have power.The disciples had no idea.  And, oftentimes I live like I have no idea.  Death feels more real than resurrection.  The corruption of sin feels more real than reigning righteousness.  Impotence feels more real than power.  The chair I’m sitting on feels more real than being seated with Christ.God, open my eyes to see the realities of the resurrection – not only that you have been raised, but that I have been raised.  Give me faith when it is hard to believe.  When death feels more natural, give me a hunger for life.  When this world feels like home, make me feel homesick for heaven.  Amen.