Life On the Cross and Out of the Tomb by John Avant

This week we remember that our Lord died for us on the cross. But He wants us to do more than remember. He wants us to join Him.  

“I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.”  ‭‭Galatians‬ ‭2‬:‭20‬ 

What does it mean to be crucified with Christ, to join Jesus on the cross?

A.W. Tozer said that crucified people have 3 things in common:

“They face only one direction. They never turn back. They have no plans of their own.”

Powerful!

Cultural Christians may think about the cross this week. 

Followers of Jesus join Him on it. 

Ask Jesus this week to make you a one direction man or woman. Ask the Holy Spirit to enable you to never turn back to your old life no matter what others may do.  Choose to abandon any plans of your own that could keep you from life with Jesus. 

The glorious truth about this week is that your life with Jesus doesn’t stay on the cross.  I don’t like it when I hear someone teach on “the crucified life.“ That's only half of the story!

In Christ, we don’t stay dead!

“Having been buried with him in baptism, in which you were also raised with him through faith in the powerful working of God, who raised him from the dead. And you, who were dead in your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, God made alive together with him, having forgiven us all our trespasses,” ‭‭Colossians‬ ‭2‬:‭12‬-‭13‬ ‭

Just as crucified people have three things in common, risen people do as well. 

Now we face only one direction - an eternal one!

Now we never turn back. We can’t be un-resurrected!

Now we have only Jesus' plans! We didn’t resurrect ourselves. We are alive with Christ. So we go where He goes. 

This is what this week actually means. This is what it can mean to your life. Notice the verses above are not about the future. We die now with Christ. We live now with Christ. 

Yes, one day we will be glorified with Christ, but we don’t have to wait to live in resurrection power. It is available to you right now.  We have been “raised with him through faith in the powerful working of God.”

Don’t settle for less this Easter week.

There’s nothing routine about the resurrection. 

Years ago, I had the privilege of leading two young ladies to Jesus on the other side of the world. They had never heard His name. It was an answer to a life prayer that I would one day be able to see people come to Him who had never heard of Him.  

The missionaries in that region took these two young ladies to their city and showed them the Jesus video in their tribal language. When Jesus was on the cross, the two young ladies laid on the floor and wept. And when Jesus rose from the grave, they jumped up from the floor and ran around the room, shouting to everyone, “He’s alive! He’s alive!  He’s not dead anymore!”

No, He’s not. 

And neither are you.

So cry this week. Shout for joy this week. Both are appropriate. 

But go way beyond remembrance.

You have died with Christ. Death no longer has a hold on you. You have risen with Christ. His life and eternity are yours. 

So go live with Him. 

Happy Easter, everyone!