Easter Sunday by Dr. Thomas Chung dated 31.3.13

What is the meaning of Easter Sunday to us and the church? What is the meaning of the Cross? Dr.Thomas Chung related that he was invited by his son’s auntie for a drink before coming to the church this morning, and he was served 3 in 1 coffee mix. He realized this 3 in 1 coffee mix is also the message of the Cross. He said the 3 in 1 drink mix referred to the 3 kingdoms, a) Kingdom of Satan b) kingdom of the world c) Kingdom of God.

Matthew 27:50-54 – The kingdom of Satan is never the same again after Jesus resurrected from death. Jesus said “It is finished” in His last breath. The kingdom of Satan had been shocked by the resurrection of Jesus Christ.

The first Resurrection in Matthew 27:52 – many holy people were raised from the dead as the tombs opened when the earth was shaken.
1. The Kingdom of Satan was devastated because Satan could not hold on to death.
2. The kingdom of the world was never the same again because of the earthquake after Jesus’s death.
3. The kingdom of God is never the same also after Jesus died. Hebrew 7:24-25. Jesus interceded for us and prepare a place for us in heaven.

The Significant of the Cross 

The significance of the Cross is that if Jesus did not die our faith will be futile. Jesus is both man and God. He was also a human who demonstrated his humanity. He died as a man. After that he was raised from the dead. 1 Cor 15 Resurrection of Christ – He overcame death. We also died in Jesus and now we live because of Jesus. He died as a Son of Man and raise from death as the Son of God. Jesus is our hope. Hebrew 9: 28 – Jesus died once to bear the sins of many and He will come back the second time. Our hope is in Him because a) He was raised from death b) He will come back again.

What is the significant of His raising? 

Why did God raise Jesus? In Jesus’ Resurrection God declared that in His Resurrection it was sufficient to atone us of our sins. The death of Jesus satisfied God. The death of Jesus is the perfect and sufficient sacrifice for the sins of the world. 1 Cor 15:17-22 – if Jesus was not raised from the dead our faith is futile. We will still be in sins. The blood of Jesus washed our sins.

What is the significant of the resurrection to me today?

 Two resurrections a) we live a resurrected life b) living a resurrected life is signify by water baptism.

Roman 6:3-5 – we are baptized into His death so that as Christ was raised from death we can walk in a new life.
1. Died with Christ
2. Sins buried
3. Resurrected to a new life
In Christ we are new Creations. We are fresh, alive in Christ our hope of glory.

How do we live in Christ? 

We are to be preoccupied with Jesus. Beside the needs of our daily living we are to be preoccupied with Jesus.
a) Think of Him throughout the day. Philippians to live is Christ and to die is gain.
b) Thought of Jesus throughout our lives. Think about what He want us to do in life. 1 Cor 2:16
c) Busy about our Father’s business, some say to be in the house of our Father.

The challenge of Easter 2013 is to press on like an athlete dashing pass the finishing line.