The Sunday After
Living in the Power of Resurrection: The Sunday After
The celebration has ended. The Easter lilies have been put away. The special music has faded. The crowds have dispersed. And now we find ourselves in the ordinary rhythm of life again, asking that inevitable question: "What's next?"
It's a question we ask after every significant event. We spend hours preparing a meal that's consumed in minutes. We plan elaborate celebrations that pass in a flash. And then we wonder—what now?
But here's the beautiful truth: the power of resurrection isn't meant for just one Sunday. The benefits of Christ's victory over death aren't locked in a single celebration. They're meant to transform every ordinary day that follows.
The Problem That's Been Solved
We all have a problem, and its name is sin. This isn't new information—it's been humanity's struggle since the very beginning, when Adam and Eve chose disobedience in the garden. And because God is absolutely holy and just, this sin problem must be addressed.
Throughout the Old Testament, we see the solution played out repeatedly: blood sacrifices. Bulls, goats, and sheep were offered to make atonement for sin. As Leviticus 17:11 explains, "For the life of the flesh is in the blood, and I have given it to you on the altar to make atonement for your souls; for it is the blood by reason of the life that makes atonement."
Think back to the first Passover in Egypt. The angel of death was coming to claim the firstborn of every household. But God provided a way of escape—the blood of a lamb spread over the doorway. When the angel saw that blood, it passed over that home. The blood of the lamb protected God's people.
This same principle carries into the New Testament, but with one crucial difference: we no longer sacrifice animals. Instead, someone was sacrificed for us—Jesus, described uniquely in Scripture as "the Lamb of God."
Romans 3 paints a sobering picture of our condition: "There is none righteous, not even one; there is none who understands, there is none who seeks for God; all have turned aside, together they have become useless; there is none who does good, there is not even one."
But the good news? 1 John 1:7 declares that "the blood of Jesus His Son cleanses us from all sin." And 1 John 2:2 adds, "He Himself is the propitiation for our sins; and not for ours only, but also for those of the whole world."
This is the problem solved. Not by our effort. Not by our goodness. Not by our religious activities. Jesus fixed what we could never fix. And He paid it in full.
As Puritan pastor Richard Benning wrote: "Death is the plague of sinners. Christ is the plague of death."
The Power That's Been Validated
God makes promises throughout Scripture—remarkable commitments that seem almost too good to be true. But the resurrection validates every single one of them.
Near the end of his life, Joshua gathered the people of Israel and declared, "Now behold, today I am going the way of all the earth, and you know in all your hearts and in all your souls that not one word of all the good words which the LORD your God spoke concerning you has failed; all have been fulfilled for you, not one of them has failed" (Joshua 23:14).
God's word is true. When He makes a promise, He keeps it. From Genesis onward, God promised a Messiah—one who would save us. And the empty tomb proves He delivered.
But here's what makes this even more remarkable: the same power that raised Jesus from the dead lives within every believer through the Holy Spirit. Galatians 2:20 captures this beautifully: "I have been crucified with Christ; and it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself up for me."
This resurrection power enables us to live lives of godliness and holiness. Not perfection—but genuine transformation. It gives us strength to endure hardship, trial, suffering, and persecution. It's the power to become who God created us to be.
But there's also a warning we must heed. Romans 2:4 asks, "Do you think lightly of the riches of His kindness and tolerance and patience, not knowing that the kindness of God leads you to repentance?"
We can't celebrate Easter and then return to the same old sinful patterns unchanged. God's kindness isn't meant to leave us where we are—it's meant to lead us toward Him in repentance and transformation.
The Purpose That's Been Given
Many people, especially young adults, wrestle with the question: "What's my purpose? What does God want me to do with my life?"
The answer isn't hidden in some mysterious code. It's clearly laid out in Scripture.
When a lawyer asked Jesus which was the greatest commandment, He responded: "You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind. This is the great and foremost commandment." The second is like it, 'You shall love your neighbor as yourself.' On these two commandments depend the whole Law and the Prophets" (Matthew 22:37-40).
There it is: Love God. Love others. That's God's will for your life.
We also have what we might call the "Great Commission"—to go and make disciples of all nations. And the "Great Calling"—Romans 6 describes it as using our bodies not as instruments of unrighteousness, but as instruments of righteousness.
Whatever specific path your life takes, if it corresponds with loving God and loving others, you're walking in God's will. That's a purpose worth savoring, not just on Easter, but every day after.
The Promise That's Been Guaranteed
For those who have lost loved ones—a spouse of many decades, a parent, a dear friend—there's a particular comfort in the promises of Scripture.
Psalm 16:11 assures us, "In Your presence is fullness of joy." Upon death, believers enter into the presence of the Lord, where joy is complete.
Jesus Himself promised in John 6:40 that "on the last day I will raise them up"—a bodily resurrection in glorified form.
Isaiah 25 and Revelation 21 paint a picture of eternity where there are no more tears, no more crying, no more pain. A place of feasting and celebration.
Yes, we grieve when we lose those we love. But we don't grieve as the world does, without hope. We grieve with the confident expectation of reunion.
As Paul triumphantly declares in 1 Corinthians 15:55-57: "O death, where is your victory? O death, where is your sting? The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law; but thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ."
Living in the Afterglow
The benefits of resurrection aren't reserved for one special Sunday each year. They're for today and every day that follows:
The grave may be your long home, but it's not your last home.
Because He lives, everything changes.
Grace and peace,
The celebration has ended. The Easter lilies have been put away. The special music has faded. The crowds have dispersed. And now we find ourselves in the ordinary rhythm of life again, asking that inevitable question: "What's next?"
It's a question we ask after every significant event. We spend hours preparing a meal that's consumed in minutes. We plan elaborate celebrations that pass in a flash. And then we wonder—what now?
But here's the beautiful truth: the power of resurrection isn't meant for just one Sunday. The benefits of Christ's victory over death aren't locked in a single celebration. They're meant to transform every ordinary day that follows.
The Problem That's Been Solved
We all have a problem, and its name is sin. This isn't new information—it's been humanity's struggle since the very beginning, when Adam and Eve chose disobedience in the garden. And because God is absolutely holy and just, this sin problem must be addressed.
Throughout the Old Testament, we see the solution played out repeatedly: blood sacrifices. Bulls, goats, and sheep were offered to make atonement for sin. As Leviticus 17:11 explains, "For the life of the flesh is in the blood, and I have given it to you on the altar to make atonement for your souls; for it is the blood by reason of the life that makes atonement."
Think back to the first Passover in Egypt. The angel of death was coming to claim the firstborn of every household. But God provided a way of escape—the blood of a lamb spread over the doorway. When the angel saw that blood, it passed over that home. The blood of the lamb protected God's people.
This same principle carries into the New Testament, but with one crucial difference: we no longer sacrifice animals. Instead, someone was sacrificed for us—Jesus, described uniquely in Scripture as "the Lamb of God."
Romans 3 paints a sobering picture of our condition: "There is none righteous, not even one; there is none who understands, there is none who seeks for God; all have turned aside, together they have become useless; there is none who does good, there is not even one."
But the good news? 1 John 1:7 declares that "the blood of Jesus His Son cleanses us from all sin." And 1 John 2:2 adds, "He Himself is the propitiation for our sins; and not for ours only, but also for those of the whole world."
This is the problem solved. Not by our effort. Not by our goodness. Not by our religious activities. Jesus fixed what we could never fix. And He paid it in full.
As Puritan pastor Richard Benning wrote: "Death is the plague of sinners. Christ is the plague of death."
The Power That's Been Validated
God makes promises throughout Scripture—remarkable commitments that seem almost too good to be true. But the resurrection validates every single one of them.
Near the end of his life, Joshua gathered the people of Israel and declared, "Now behold, today I am going the way of all the earth, and you know in all your hearts and in all your souls that not one word of all the good words which the LORD your God spoke concerning you has failed; all have been fulfilled for you, not one of them has failed" (Joshua 23:14).
God's word is true. When He makes a promise, He keeps it. From Genesis onward, God promised a Messiah—one who would save us. And the empty tomb proves He delivered.
But here's what makes this even more remarkable: the same power that raised Jesus from the dead lives within every believer through the Holy Spirit. Galatians 2:20 captures this beautifully: "I have been crucified with Christ; and it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself up for me."
This resurrection power enables us to live lives of godliness and holiness. Not perfection—but genuine transformation. It gives us strength to endure hardship, trial, suffering, and persecution. It's the power to become who God created us to be.
But there's also a warning we must heed. Romans 2:4 asks, "Do you think lightly of the riches of His kindness and tolerance and patience, not knowing that the kindness of God leads you to repentance?"
We can't celebrate Easter and then return to the same old sinful patterns unchanged. God's kindness isn't meant to leave us where we are—it's meant to lead us toward Him in repentance and transformation.
The Purpose That's Been Given
Many people, especially young adults, wrestle with the question: "What's my purpose? What does God want me to do with my life?"
The answer isn't hidden in some mysterious code. It's clearly laid out in Scripture.
When a lawyer asked Jesus which was the greatest commandment, He responded: "You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind. This is the great and foremost commandment." The second is like it, 'You shall love your neighbor as yourself.' On these two commandments depend the whole Law and the Prophets" (Matthew 22:37-40).
There it is: Love God. Love others. That's God's will for your life.
We also have what we might call the "Great Commission"—to go and make disciples of all nations. And the "Great Calling"—Romans 6 describes it as using our bodies not as instruments of unrighteousness, but as instruments of righteousness.
Whatever specific path your life takes, if it corresponds with loving God and loving others, you're walking in God's will. That's a purpose worth savoring, not just on Easter, but every day after.
The Promise That's Been Guaranteed
For those who have lost loved ones—a spouse of many decades, a parent, a dear friend—there's a particular comfort in the promises of Scripture.
Psalm 16:11 assures us, "In Your presence is fullness of joy." Upon death, believers enter into the presence of the Lord, where joy is complete.
Jesus Himself promised in John 6:40 that "on the last day I will raise them up"—a bodily resurrection in glorified form.
Isaiah 25 and Revelation 21 paint a picture of eternity where there are no more tears, no more crying, no more pain. A place of feasting and celebration.
Yes, we grieve when we lose those we love. But we don't grieve as the world does, without hope. We grieve with the confident expectation of reunion.
As Paul triumphantly declares in 1 Corinthians 15:55-57: "O death, where is your victory? O death, where is your sting? The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law; but thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ."
Living in the Afterglow
The benefits of resurrection aren't reserved for one special Sunday each year. They're for today and every day that follows:
- Your sin problem has been solved
- God's power has been validated
- Your purpose has been given
- Your future has been guaranteed
The grave may be your long home, but it's not your last home.
Because He lives, everything changes.
Grace and peace,
Pastor Kirk Flaa
Posted in Bible, Care, Discipleship, God, Jesus, Scripture, Worship, Youth
Posted in God, Word of God, Jesus, Faith, Worship, Scriptures, Bible, Trust, truth, Love, Promises, Resurrection, Repentance, Book of Acts, Acts 2:22-33
Posted in God, Word of God, Jesus, Faith, Worship, Scriptures, Bible, Trust, truth, Love, Promises, Resurrection, Repentance, Book of Acts, Acts 2:22-33
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