◎Ken Radant (Carey Theological College, Associate Professor of Theology)
Easter is many things. It is a rich season that reminds us of multiple life-changing truths.
It is about godly sorrow—the repentance awakened when we remember what Christ paid for our sin.
It is about incomparable grace—the kindness of God, offering His own Son for our redemption.
It is about unparalleled joy—the delightful knowledge that our Lord has overcome death and darkness.
It is about unshakable hope—the conviction that Jesus’ resurrection guarantees eternal life and new creation to come.
Easter is great news! It will stir our hearts to worship as we read the story again this week.
In my church we will probably do this in one of the Gospels, or perhaps in 1 Corinthians 15. We will almost certainly not look into Ephesians, which is not part of our regular Easter liturgy. Yet my recent reading in that epistle reminds me that Ephesians adds an important dimension to our celebration. In chapter 1 verses 17-21, Paul prays:
"… asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation, so that you may know him better, … that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in his holy people, and his incomparably great power for us who believe. That power is the same as the mighty strength he exerted when he raised Christ from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly realms, far above all rule and authority, power and dominion, and every name that is invoked, not only in the present age but also in the one to come."
Ephesians stresses that Easter is about power. It celebrates the extraordinary divine power which creates life out of death, crushes every evil force that opposes God, and raises up the lowly to the place of highest honor. This is godly power, not worldly power. In our world, the powerful exalt themselves, take things for their own benefit, crush and push aside those who are in the way. God’s power exalts the needy. It provides generously for others. It offers good to all who will receive.
We need God’s power. I need it. I am called to become someone I cannot be on my own, to serve in ways that are beyond me. I am weak; I get tired; I simply don’t have what it takes.
But Easter offers good news. Paul says the very power which raised Jesus from the dead and established Him as King is at work today in the church—in you and me. His resurrection power is present to accomplish His will in us. Hallelujah! May our eyes be opened to see, celebrate, and experience this truth along with all the others.
