The Death and Resurrection of Christ
Open Your Bible
Matthew 27:32-50, Galatians 2:19-20, Luke 24:36-49, Colossians 1:15-20
BY Rebecca Faires
When I was nine, I had a theory that it always rained on Good Friday. And in my limited experience north of the Mason-Dixon line, it did rain on most Fridays before Easter. This made me believe that the earth was grieving, groaning, and remembering the world-altering death of Christ on that day. Looking up from my coloring book there at the dining room table to the cold, spring rain on our grass, I felt what I still feel today: sadness.
A feeling of melancholy, sentimental or otherwise, over the death of Christ is certainly not an emotion unique to little girls in the Midwest. Christ’s misery was deeply painful to those who were with Him on that day, and is still real to us today. In his “Homily of the Passion,” second-century bishop Melito of Sardis wondered:
What new mystery is this?
The judge is judged and remains silent;
The invisible one is seen and does not hide himself;
The incomprehensible one is comprehended and does not resist;
The unmeasurable one is measured and does not struggle;
The one beyond suffering suffers and does not avenge himself;
The immortal one dies and does not refuse death.
What new mystery is this?
We can join the bishop in his wonder at this deep and painful mystery. And it is right that we should mourn. It is right that we want to turn away from the thought of Christ crucified. It is truly painful, and it’s the pain of the world turned upside down. Immortality gasping for breath means something has gone terribly wrong.
The wrong is written on our own foreheads. Every Ash Wednesday, we remember that we are the ones who are dust and ashes, that the sin that turned the world upside down is our sin. It is my sin—my daily run-of-the-mill gossip and petty jealousy. In spite of my horror and grief when I remember Christ’s suffering, I also rise up in joyous wonder that He has taken my place.
There is a tension here. We mourn at the pain of Christ’s suffering, but we dance—and I do mean dance—because we are restored by His sacrifice. My grief can turn to celebration because, like Paul, “I have been crucified with Christ, and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me” (Galatians 2:20). What a glorious realization of our freedom!
It doesn’t matter whether or not I think it should rain on Good Friday as some symbol of cosmic mourning. What matters is that on a certain day, many years ago, the sky turned black (Matthew 27:45), the world was turned upside down, and the Son of God gave Himself for us. And in spite of our sadness, we will forever rejoice.
197 thoughts on "The Death and Resurrection of Christ"
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It feels a little strange how removed we can be from Christ’s death. We think of it as an event that we are thankful for. I feel like that’s making a missing piece stick out for me—if I am a believer, I need to daily enter into the death and resurrection of Christ. I was headed for the cross, I was headed for condemnation, but Jesus took me and said “I’m going for you. Your debt is paid in full.” And all I could say back to him is thank you. I would be mournful; I would say “No, Jesus!! You didn’t do a single thing wrong! I deserve to go!”
And he would say, “I’m paying the price for you. And I love you, and I’m happy to do it.”
Then he would return. And I would be rejoicing and in disbelief. I want to bring that joy and awe to my everyday relationship with Jesus!-
Thank you for painting a picture for us.
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Wow, it is the first time Christ’s death and resurrection was described to me in that way before. Thank you, Michelle, for making it so deeply personal.
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Beautifully said. ❤️
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Second day in and cant even begun to say how much this helps. I fell away from my religion but have trying to come back and love this
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❤️
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I am mourning the loss of a relationship. I was supposed to be married, but my fiancé broke it off less than 2 months before the wedding. The wedding date was June 1 and I feel like I should be farther along in my healing, like I shouldn’t be this sad all the time. But these passages showed me today that the grieving process is deep and necessary to get to the other side: dancing.
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You are not alone Annalise. Breaking of relationships is a deep pain, raw and real. Take your time grieving and do not be ashamed but take every moment of pain to turn to God because He is the only way to get through it and come out the other side a stronger. Praying for you this morning
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I am battling an unexplainable sadness these days. The burdens in my life are unique and riddled with loneliness. In this particular season I am battling the weight and burdens of being a caregiver to many…I am desperate for someone to pour into me, but I am reminded today that Jesus has already overcome, conquered defeated the complex weight I am carrying. It is finished. We are free.
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By husband died 6 days ago. He was only 60. We found out about the cancer and exactly 6 weeks later after a surgery and to long in the hospital he went to be with Jesus. Our daughter it 7. She asks how long until she sees daddy again. She asked if I’m sure we really will. Thank you Lord for your word. The truth I can give to comfort her from Your word.
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Shannon, I lost my mom in a car wreck when I was 7, so your comment struck me. As I look back on the 33 years since then, God has been so faithful to me. He placed people in my life to nurture and encourage me and to show me the way to Him. I’m praying for you and your daughter today.
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You and your daughter are in my prayers, Shannon.❤️
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There is sadness but then great joy in the resurrection! God’s promises fulfilled.
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This really touched. I am currently going through a painful heart break and this soothed me…
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I was just talking with my mother about how we need suffering in order to appreciate joy… and it takes both to become grateful for everything we have been given. One day I hope to be more like her. On her most painful days, she still feels the pain and mourns, but she is also far more joyful about the blessings she has. She dances in the rain.
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