Tomorrow is Easter Sunday—a time of celebration and joy for Christians all around the world. But what if you’re struggling and not feeling that joy? What if you just lost a loved one and the pain of that loss is still raw?
Many of us involved with Skilton House Ministries might be feeling that way, with the passing of our beloved Pastor Henry Cooper. He served as president of SHM and was always involved with Operation Brotherhood. But while we mourn, we still have hope. And that hope is integrally tied to Easter Sunday.
In 1 Thessalonians, Paul writes “since we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so, through Jesus, God will bring with Him those who have fallen asleep [died]” (v.14). This is the reason that we do not “grieve as others do who have no hope” (v. 13). One of the benefits of Christ’s resurrection that we enjoy is the hope we have of our own resurrection (and of our loved ones who are in Christ). May you find the following passages of Scripture encouraging as we ponder Christ’s resurrection and just one of the aspects of what it means for us.
“I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in Me, though he die, yet shall he live, and everyone who lives and believes in Me shall never die.” –John 11:25-26
“[Our faith] will be counted to us [as righteousness] who believe in Him who raised from the dead Jesus our Lord, who was delivered up for our trespasses and raised for our justification.” –Romans 4:24-25
“If the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, He who raised Christ Jesus from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit who dwells in you.” –Romans 8:11
“And God raised the Lord and will also raise us up by His power.” – 1Corinthians 6:14
“If there is no resurrection of the dead, then not even Christ has been raised. …And if Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile and you are still in your sins.… But in fact Christ has been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep. For as by a man came death, by a man has come also the resurrection of the dead. For as in Adam all die, so also in Christ shall all be made alive.” –1 Corinthians 15:13-22
“So is it with the resurrection of the dead. What is sown is perishable; what is raised is imperishable. It is sown in dishonor; it is raised in glory. It is sown in weakness; it is raised in power. It is sown a natural body; it is raised a spiritual body.” –1 Corinthians 15:42-44
“…that you may know what is the hope to which He has called you, what are the riches of His glorious inheritance in the saints, and what is the immeasurable greatness of His power toward us who believe, according to the working of His great might that He worked in Christ when He raised Him from the dead and seated Him at His right hand in the heavenly places.” –Ephesians 1:18-20
“…that I may know Him and the power of His resurrection…” –Philippians 3:10
“But our citizenship is in heaven, and from it we await a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, who will transform our lowly body to be like His glorious body, by the power that enables Him even to subject all things to Himself.” –Philippians 3:20-21
“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! According to His great mercy, He has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead.” –1 Peter 1:3
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