By Rev. Francis Neil G. Jalando-on

The resurrection of Jesus Christ is the highlight of the Holy Week.

With this perspective in mind, I would like to share one message, one implication, and four challenges on the resurrection of Jesus Christ.

The message of the resurrection is that God is the God of life. The statements of Jesus as recorded in John are about life. Jesus said, “I am the way, the truth and the life,” “I am the living water,” “I am the resurrection and the life,” “I am the bread of life.” All of these point to the truth that our God is the God of life, and the giver of life. John 10:10 affirms it, “I have come that you may have life, and have it to the full.” Because our God is the God of life, together with Peter and Martha, we can declare, “Thou art Christ, the Son of the Living God.”

The implication of this message is that we must not allow the world to kill Jesus again and again nor force him to remain in the tomb. Thus, as we resist the forces of death in our midst, let us ponder on these challenges from the word LIFE.

L – LIVE a life that shows that Jesus is alive in our lives and not dead. Similar to what happened to Lazarus, Jesus Christ is commanding us to unwrap ourselves from the grave clothes, thus freeing us from the bondage of death-like situations. Let us always picture out Jesus shouting at us, “Get out of there.”

I – (Be actively) INVOLVED in the ministry of resurrection. Let us be active in the ministry of resurrecting our brothers and sisters who are living a spiritually dead life and those who are victims of modern day Sadducees and Pharisees.

F – FULFILL God’s expectation to be bringers of life and not death. We are expected to always seek life and not destruction. Let us cry together with Jesus every time we see death and destruction, and then let us do something about it.

E – ENCOURAGE one another to be united in taking away the stone in the tomb. Jesus is asking us to collectively “roll the stone away.” There is strength in unity. We must participate in the task of putting away the barriers that impede us in having a life in its fullest.