Spring is a wonderful time of year. During this season, we see the snow of winter melt away to be replaced by new life. In this cycle of nature, we experience the physical manifestation of what Easter means. The resurrection of Jesus Christ allows us to sprout out of the rocky ground and begin a new life in accordance with His Word, by the power of His Holy Spirit.

Ever since the original sin of Adam, humanity has been guilty before God and subject to his wrath (Genesis 3:14). There is no way to put it nicely. Every day, we all actively participate in rebellion from God, and without His grace, we condemn ourselves to an eternity apart from Him. Fortunately for us, the story does not end here. God, in His grace, sent His son to take on the wrath that we justly deserved (Romans 2:5). The Bible tells us that Jesus came to be the propitiation for those sins (Romans 3:25). He did so by dying on a cross. But again this was not the end of the story, because on the third day Jesus rose from the grave and ascended into glory.

In the book The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe, C.S. Lewis gives a wonderful fictionalized portrayal of the importance of Jesus’ sacrifice and resurrection. Edmund, one of the main protagonists, falls prone to the lies of the evil White Witch, and in doing so is condemned to die. Edmund represents us in all our weakness and sinfulness. He would be doomed to die if it were not for Aslan, the Great Lion, who takes on Edmund’s debt and dies in his place. Aslan is beaten, shamed, and killed on a cold, stone table. But, with the warmth of the rising sun, Aslan rises from the dead and the power of the White Witch is broken.

As Edmund was freed from death through the death of Aslan, so too are our shackles released. Not only does Aslan take on Edmund’s debt, but he also breaths new life into others that had turned to stone. In the same way, the death and resurrection of Jesus creates new life in us.

The resurrection of Jesus Christ means that God has conquered death. Romans 6:9  says “We know that Christ, being raised from the dead, will never die again; death no longer has dominion over him.” This means that we have a living and breathing savior to follow. Theologian J. Gresham Machen said that it was not the memory of Jesus that will change our lives, but “it was the message, ‘He is risen.’ That message alone gave to the disciples a living Savior; and it alone can give to us a living Savior today.” Our ultimate hope lies in the fact that our Savior did not remain in the grave but rose from the dead, “[leading] a host of captives, and [giving] gifts to men.” (Ephesians 4:8).

As we celebrate Good Friday, the day of Christ’s crucifixion, and Easter Sunday, the day of His triumphal resurrection, let us rejoice in our risen savior. When a fellow believer says to you “He is risen,” let your heart ring out in reply “He is risen indeed!,” not just during this season but throughout the year. As we persevere through life’s difficulties and joys, we should remember not only that Jesus has taken our place, but that He was raised from the dead and is at work among us today, and finally, that He has prepared a place for us in glory (John 14:3).