In the darkened auditorium, a momentary silence is broken by the off-stage announcer’s voice. “Yes, it’s been years since he left us, but tonight the King is back!” A bright spotlight pierces the darkness, alighting on a figure as it emerges from stage left. And there he is! Coal black hair, mutton chop sideburns, aviator sunglasses, white jumpsuit. He HAD returned. A friend to my right nudges me and whispers, “Look, it’s Elvis! He’s back from the dead...again.”
A few moments before the show, I had confided that I was writing a short meditation on resurrection. Never could I have ever connected resurrection with Elvis’s appearance on stage! Elvis was there by impersonation. Resurrection is not resuscitating someone from near death. Nor is it the result of being brought back to life by the action of another. What, then, is it and does it have any significance?
Christ died and His death was verified. He then returned to life from His own death with no human intervention. His resurrection is and was the only one of its kind. Rev. Herbert Hemingway of Point Harbor offered me these words: “If you believe in your heart that Christ’s death, burial and resurrection are true, you will receive Christ for eternal life.” Of these three events, though, resurrection is the most essential. Only by His resurrection could Christ confirm his divinity, fulfill prophecy and assure humanity of salvation.
Will we follow Him on our journey through life, beyond life, to eternal life? Do we have faith in Him, trust Him? And, above all, do we believe in His resurrection?
Heavenly Father, thank you for sending Your
Son to earth as a baby so many years ago.
Thank you that He paid the punishment for my
sins by dying on the cross. And thank you that
He rose again to prove that death was truly
defeated. I place my trust in You to be my
Savior. Guide me through the dark times of my
life and give me courage to live for You. Amen
– Max Lucado
Barbara White
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