Within 24 hours of posting, a photo in Facebook garnered more than 128,000 likes and 35,700 shares. By the time you read this, there probably will be hundreds or even thousands more. It’s the picture of three baristas holding the hand of a drive-through customer and praying for her. The photo was taken by another customer waiting in line to pick up her coffee. Later she learned that the customer in front of her had just lost her husband the night before. The 19-year-old barista serving that customer noticed that she was troubled, asked if he could pray for her. Two other baristas stopped what they were doing and joined in the prayer. It is a picture of faith and encouragement in a dark situation. It is a picture of hope firmly grounded in the resurrection.
Easter is a time of celebrating life and hope. “Jesus is alive!” The one who was crucified and buried has been raised from the dead, and now lives forever. For many, this offers the firm assurance that death no longer has the last word in a person’s existence. Because of Jesus, there now is victory over sin and death. Those who put their trust in Jesus can have the same confidence that Paul had, and declare with him: “‘Death has been swallowed up in victory.’ ‘Where, O death, is your victory? Where, O death, is your sting?’ The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ” (1 Corinthians 15:54–57 NIV).
But there is more to the resurrection than just life after death. The power of the resurrection is not limited to the time of death. Resurrection is not just about “when we die” but very much also about “when we are living.” When a teenager stops to encourage a grieving widow, and offer a prayer of hope, that’s resurrection power at work. It no longer matters whether other customers will complain, or whether it could mean a reprimand from employers. When a husband chooses to remain faithful to his wife in the face of pressure from his peers to do otherwise, that is resurrection. When a victim chooses to extend forgiveness to the person who has wronged her, that is resurrection. Resurrection is about life-giving and life-affirming actions.
The apostle Paul reminds us that “the same mighty power that raised Christ from the dead” is also at work, right now, among “those who believe” (Ephesians 1.19–20 NLT). This is “the power now available for the people of God in the continuing communication of God’s grace.” We would do well “to know and appropriate such power” (Andrew T. Lincoln).
Christ is risen! We look forward to our own resurrection in the future. And we also live our lives in the power of the resurrection, now.
—Keith Y. Jainga