What has risen?

Well we know who has risen- Christ is risen.  Jesus Christ is alive though He once was dead.

But that is not the question today:  What has risen?

The resurrection of Jesus is God's eternal proof that the cross really finished things - because Jesus didn't rise for His own sake - but for ours.

When He took on our flesh and was born, God took on our cause.  He saw our human nature all sinful and corrupt.  He saw us dead in our sins.  So He took on our nature to make things new.  Because only He is without sin - without death - and without slavery to the devil.

His crucifixion beat those enemies (sin, death and the devil).  Human nature was punished in Christ.  Human nature has been made pure again in Christ by His perfect life.  But Easter...

Easter is the proof that our human nature has risen in Christ.  Mankind is new in Jesus.  We are alive.  Free.  Safe.  Christ has made a new humanity by His own human life, death and resurrection - and He wants all to be in it with Him - Christ died for all. 

So when you marvel at the resurrection this glorious Easter season - marvel that human nature has risen in Christ - marvel that in Christ you have risen, ascended into heaven and even sit at the right hand of the Father.  Marvel and sing and confess the good news - Christ is risen!  He is risen indeed!