40days (7)Resurrection to Ascension
1 PETER 1: 1 – 12 “3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to his abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, ..”
INTRODUCTION
On this first Sunday after Easter, we come together to reflect on the decisive moment of our faith: the resurrection of Jesus Christ. This event not only marks a turning point in history, or the Jewish interpretation of the Old Testament, but also in our personal lives. Let us think and let ourselves be guided by the words of the apostle Peter as described in his first letter, chapter 1, verses 1-12.
LIVING HOPE
Imagine: an old woman in Cape Town struggling to get into a taxi. A comment from the taxi driver seems to undermine her hopes: “So, Auntie, you’ve already had your best time.” But her answer testifies to wisdom, a hope that extends beyond superficial wishes: “You think so, you are late, my best time is yet to come!” This simple exchange reminds us that true hope is not just a longing, but a powerful belief in something that can become reality. And for us, as believers, that hope is rooted in the resurrection of Jesus Christ.
Peter begins his letter with a praise to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus from the dead. It is important to mention that Peter is not only talking about his own experience here but also about all of us. Because as the resurrection changed Peter’s life, so it also changed our lives.
RESURRECTION REVERSED
What exactly happened to Easter? Jesus rose from the dead, victorious over the grave. But Easter was not only a triumph for Jesus; it was also a turning point for Peter and the other disciples. For them, Good Friday felt like it was the end of everything, but Easter brought a new beginning. Peter’s contact with the resurrected Lord transformed him into a new person, a person with hope, a person with a future.
The resurrection not only marks the end of death but also the beginning of a new life, a life of hope. God, out of His great mercy, has caused us to be born again to a living hope, a hope that does not disappoint. This means that our future is no longer determined by our circumstances but by the promise of eternal life in Christ.
And this hope has practical consequences for our lives today. It diminishes (relativizes) everything that is often considered important in this world. It reminds us that we are strangers, pilgrims on our way to a better destination. It changes our attitude towards money, career, and status. It calls us to a life that bears witness to God’s grace and love.
SUMMARY
Let us therefore live from the mercy of God, knowing that we are on our way to an inheritance promised to us in Christ. Let us be guided by the hope given to us by His resurrection. Because Easter is not only a reminder of what has happened but also a promise of what is yet to come. And this, my beloved brothers and sisters, is a message that brings us joy today and always. AMEN.