The three most important words in the history of the Christian church: HE IS RISEN.

According to the Pew Research Center, there are over 2 billion Christians, making them the largest religious group in the world. That means that for nearly a third of the world’s population, today is the holiest of all days.

No, it’s not about Easter eggs, new dresses, or the special dinner celebrations that have become tradition for so many.

It is about a promise kept.

While attending to the grieving sisters of his dead friend, Lazarus, Jesus spoke to Martha:

“Yeshua said to her, “I AM THE LIVING GOD, The Resurrection and The Life; whoever trusts in me, even if he dies, he shall live.” 26“And everyone who lives and believes in me shall never die. Do you believe this?” 27And she said to him, “Yes, my Lord, I do believe that you are The Messiah, The Son of God, who has come into the world.” – John 11:25-27 ABPE

Jesus referred to himself, prior to his horrific torture and death on the cross, as “the Resurrection.”

Not that he had the ability to resurrect the dead – although we know he certainly could. We saw that only a few verses later, he called and Lazarus came out of the tomb, restored and whole.

No, the power of Jesus is much more than the ability to raise the dead. If it were only that, wouldn’t he have referred to himself as “the Resurrector,” or something along those lines?

The answer is in the words that followed, “…and The Life.”

To have Jesus is to have life, itself. True life. He is life that can’t be taken, even when our very limited vision of what living consists of is over.

“ But on the first day of the week, at early dawn, the women went to the tomb bringing the spices which they had prepared [to finish anointing the body]. ² And they found the [large, circular] stone rolled back from the tomb, ³ but when they went inside, they did not find the body of the Lord Jesus. ⁴ While they were perplexed and wondering about this, suddenly, two men in dazzling clothing stood near them; ⁵ and as the women were terrified and were bowing their faces to the ground, the men said to them, “Why are you looking for the living One among the dead? ⁶ He is not here, but has risen. Remember how He told you, while He was still in Galilee, ⁷ saying that the Son of Man must be handed over to sinful men, and be crucified, and on the third day rise [from death to life].” ⁸ And they remembered His words,” – Luke 24:1-8 AMP

On Resurrection Day, Christians rejoice, because this is victory. Death, Hell, and the grave were rendered to empty threats in the life of Believers, because of the faithfulness of Jesus Christ.

We give thanks and praise today, rejoicing because of the empty tomb.

He is risen, and as He lives in us, so will we likewise rise.