Don’t let the resurrection of Jesus slip out of consciousness too soon. It’s still Easter, even now.
Having vanquished the Enemy, who had usurped authority over all the kingdoms of the world (Luke 4:5-8), Jesus reclaims for humanity its original purpose: to rule the world on God’s behalf (Gen. 1:26-28). This is one reason why we find Paul referring to the resurrected Jesus as the second and last Adam. But as the last Adam, Jesus also holds humanity’s destiny in his hands. (Read more here)
The celebration of particular times of the year, such as easter, encourages a focus on the resurrection at that time, and, by default, doesn’t encourage resurrection consciousness at other times. What well-meaning people intend as the purpose of keeping feasts, times and seasons, has the opposite effect of removing or reducing the memory of these key events all the rest of the year. Even though Paul’s strictures on keeping times, seasons, days and years was particularly aimed at the Judaising (if I am allowed to use that term) influence on Gentile Christians, it appears that such observations were also a throwback to their pagan past: Gal 4:7 ff, where Paul regrets their return to the keeping of times and seasons, replacing a former bondage for a new-found one. Just like the Sabbath, Daniel, these special days do not apply to us.
I’m actually 100% in agreement, John. I keep talking about Easter for the express purpose of creating consciousness of resurrection beyond one day a year. Maybe I should do it every Sunday for the whole year?!
Every Sunday? Try every day. Twice a day… That’s about how often I need the reminder.
But if I blog it twice a day all year, some might start to find the blog a bit predicable!
Find different ways of saying it.