Christ is risen! Risen indeed!

These early Christians would have spoken in the international language of business, which was Greek. The world was ruled by Rome, but it was Greek that was the cultural thread that held that empire together. This greeting was not only a heralding of the Resurrection of Jesus Christ, but a proclamation of freedom.  A cry of relief and joy.

From the earliest days, Christians have recognized their powerlessness over sin, just as the Apostle Paul writes in his letter to the Roman Church. Paul saw that all were slaves to sin, from the beginning, and death had the ultimate power over all. He tells the Romans, that Jesus offers them the “Gift” of grace, freeing them from the bondage of sin, but also saving them from that final death, which Jesus conquered on the first Easter morning.

Our own Book of Common Prayer reminds us that Christ Jesus “rose victorious from the dead, and comforts us with the blessed hope of everlasting life.” It tells us that in Christ Jesus “Life is changed not ended.” This, my brothers and sisters, is the sheer joy and jubilation that early Christians felt and it was embodied in their greeting listed above.

During the 50 days of Easter let us proclaim to everyone we meet, that “Christ is Risen . . . Risen Indeed!” Let us herald the resurrection of Christ and our own liberation from sin and death.