Devotional thoughts for Easter Monday

Easter Monday

Monday 6. April 2015

But in fact Christ has been raised from the dead, the first fruits of those who have fallen asleep. For as by a man came death, by a man has come also the resurrection of the dead. For as in Adam all die, so also in Christ shall all be made alive. 1. Corinthians 15,20-22 

The 15th chapter of this Pauline epistle is so wonderfully and powerfully written that one could spend months commenting upon its verses. Paul draws out in great detail the effects of Jesus' resurrection on Easter Sunday. 

His primary example here is the two Adams. The first Adam sinned by eating from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. He passed original sin onto every one of his descendants: that means you, me and the entire world. The tree of life was now barred to him. He was banished from paradise. 

The second Adam redeemed fallen men and women by being crucified. Jesus hung on a tree, and this tree became a tree of life. What was lost has been regained. Jesus has opened up paradise to all mankind. This is why He told the repentant their: Today, you will be with Me in Paradise (Luke 23,43). 

The same with the empty tomb. Jesus rose from the dead . He overcame death, hell and the grave. His resurrection means our resurrection, and He has promised to raise up our dead bodies on the last day, restore us and bring us into Paradise with a perfect body and soul. 

Prayer: O Almighty God, who through Thine only-begotten Son Jesus Christ hast overcome death, and opened unto us the gate of everlasting life; We humbly beseech Thee that, as by Thy special grace preventing us Thou dost put into our minds good desires, so by Thy continual help be may bring the same to good effect.  Amen. (The Book of Common Prayer, 1789)