Now if Christ is proclaimed as raised from the dead, how can some of you say that there is no resurrection of the dead? But if there is no resurrection of the dead, then not even Christ has been raised. And if Christ has not been raised, then our preaching is in vain, and your faith is in vain. We are even found to be misrepresenting God, because we testified about God that he raised Christ, whom he did not raise if it is true that the dead are not raised. 16 For if the dead are not raised, not even Christ has been raised. And if Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile, and you are still in your sins. Then those also who have fallen asleep in Christ have perished. If in Christ we have hope in this life only, we are of all people most to be pitied. (1 Corinthians 15:12-19 ESV).
I’ve often thought that Easter Sunday is a bit misleading in some ways. We celebrate the resurrection of Jesus on that one day with great energy. However, I also think that after the bright colors of our best Easter “dress” and worship services filled to capacity we simply wake up on Monday facing our circumstances the same as before. We return to school or work or at home facing the pressures of everyday life. Our reading today gives us a very keen insight into how important the resurrection ought to be in our lives. The Apostle Paul goes so far to say that if it doesn’t make a difference “we are a people most to be pitied” (v. 19).
It is often true that the risen Savior may not seem nearly as close today, and little may seem to have changed. We’re still faced with that lingering disease, that broken relationship, those financial problems, or those hardships that come with growing older. We hear about poverty and persecution, about war and conflict in so many countries, and we wonder if Easter really makes a difference at all. Are things any better in the 21st century than they were in the first century?”
Though nations, technology, and social institutions have changed a lot since then, the human condition is much the same. God’s image bearers are still addicted to sin. Jesus warned his followers, “In this world you will have trouble.” But because he has overcome the world, we can have new life in him and peace despite our struggles. We can strive to enact God’s restoration in our daily lives. We can share his love with others and look forward together to the day when the risen Savior will return! That’s the difference! Take that belief into the routine of your life each day and experience the difference Easter makes!