The dead body gained life- it is this transformation that Easter celebrates. We see this transformation in the resurrection of Jesus Christ. One of the main parts of the preaching of the apostles is that Jesus is risen. Since Jesus got transformed the apostles promises that we too will be transformed (1 Cor. 15: 52). Paul’s message to the Corinthian Church was this-“For as in Adam all die, so in Christ all will be made alive. But each in his own turn: Christ, the first fruits; then, when he comes, those who belong to him” (1 Cor. 15: 22, 23). The message of Christian life’s hope and victory lies in the resurrection of Jesus. All apostles have recorded the resurrection of Jesus ( Matthew 28, Mark 16, Luke 24, John 20, 21; 1 Cor 15). The resurrection of the dead has been proved by many incidents right from the Old Testament. Through many prophets like Elijah and Elisha there have been Old Testament incidents of the resurrection of the dead (1 Kings 17: 17- 23; 2 Kings 4: 26 – 37). It is worthy to note David’s Psalm of hope as he sings “I will not die but live, and will proclaim what the Lord has done” (Psalm 118: 17). “Why do you look for the living among the dead? He is not here; he has risen!” (Luke 24: 5,6) is how Luke records this. “And if Christ has not been raised, our preaching is useless and so is your faith”(1 Cor. 15: 14) is Apostle Paul’s argument. The foundation of Christian faith is the resurrection of Jesus Christ. As the world celebrates this day of resurrection it is good to remember certain messages that this gives.

1. Transformation that the Society gets (2 Samuel 22: 1- 20)
2 Samuel 22 is the song that David sang to the Lord when He delivered him and the Israelites from the hands of Saul and all other enemies. God brings about a transformation in circumstances and gives a new dawn, for He is the fortress, shield, savior, rock, refuge, horn and the stronghold. He is the God who stretches out His hands from above and pulls us out of the raging waters. That is the final victory that is attained through death.

2. Transformation that Christ gives (Mark 16: 1- 11)
Jesus who is the son of God cannot die. From the death of Christ we understand that He was cent percent man like He is cent percent God. Jesus’ death and resurrection talks to us so that we too can be human- complete humans. But Jesus’ resurrection is an example of ultimate transformation. What is dead rises. What is closed will be opened. Jesus’ resurrection told a message to those who were sad and grieving (Mark 16: 10). He is alive was the message. God is the one who does what is thought of as impossible. Through resurrection we receive a never- ending transformation.

3. Transformation that is eternal (1 Cor. 15: 20 – 28)
Through Christ’s resurrection we realize that righteousness, truth, justice and love will always resurrect. Nobody can eternally restrain God’s character. It will certainly rise again. The hope that the oppressed first century Christians received is that they will also resurrect just as Christ resurrected. Therefore they grew through sufferings. “And if the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead is living in you, he who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through his Spirit, who lives in you (Romans 8: 11). This is the hope that came upon them. Eternal transformation will take place when the last enemy death is destroyed (1 Cor. 10: 26)

Easter

Long before Christ, there was a festival called Easter that was celebrated. There is a myth behind this. A huge egg fell from the sky into the River Euphrates. The sea creatures rolled it and brought it to the shore. Doves incubated the eggs and out of it came Astarte or Ishtar, the goddess of Easter. Easter is another word for Astarte. There was a goddess in Babylon known as Ishtar. The meaning of Ishtar is Queen of Heaven. Easter was celebrated in her name in earlier days. Hebrews abhorred goddess Astarte and the worship towards her (1 Samuel 7: 13; I Kings 11: 5, 33; 2 Kings 23: 13; Jeremiah 7: 18, 44: 18).