Meaning of Resurrection
Scripture Reading: John 14:6
Verse to Memorize: 1 Corinthians 15:20
Reference: 1 Thessalonians 4:16-17 Goal: understanding the meaning of resurrection and living with hope for resurrection Jesus left all heavenly glory behind and came to the earth in flesh to save all mankind. He was born in a stable and lived in poverty during His life. In the end, He was scourged, wore the thorny crown, and was crucified miserably. Although He was blameless and spotless, He was despised and mocked by men and died on the cross. All this was done to redeem us from our sins.
Thanks to His love that is preeminent over justice, the way leading all men to salvation was opened wide. Christians participate in His suffering by offering up fasting with love and thanks for Jesus' crucifixion during the Passion Week. But because Jesus was sinless, He overcame death on the third day after His burial and resurrected. On Easter Sunday, we, in heart, commemorate the resurrection of Jesus who was raised from the dead and engrave its spiritual meaning in our hearts again. I hope by doing so you will be filled with hope for resurrection, eternal life, and Heaven.
- 1. Resurrection stands for 'True Life'
Sinners are destined to die according to the spiritual law as written in Romans 6:23 that says, "The wages of sin is death." All men on the earth are born as descendants of Adam who committed sin, and they commit sins in their lives. It is just as said in Romans 3:10, "There is none righteous, not even one." Since all men were sinners, no man could solve the problem of sin. But Jesus came to the earth and saved mankind who was doomed to death.
To redeem us from our sins, He died on the cross that symbolizes a curse. However, He overcame death on the third day after the burial and resurrected because He had no sin at all. By this, He became the first fruits of resurrection. Anyone who believes it and accepts Jesus as their personal Savior can avoid the death that comes through sins and gain eternal life. It is as written in 1 Corinthians 15:22, "For as in Adam all die, so also in Christ all will be made alive." But many people don't even consider the problem of sin and death they face. They just think there is nothing that follows after they die.
They don't acknowledge the afterlife. Sinners will meet with death of their body, which is death in fleshly sense. But that is not the end of their life. When they finish their lives on the earth not only will their fleshly body die, but they will also be faced with spiritual death which means the sufferings in Hell. This death was all that once awaited everyone. But the Lord gave true life to us that made it possible for us to enjoy everlasting life. We could have nothing to do with death and live in Heaven forever. Of course, many saved people ended their lives on the earth and died. But the Bible calls their death 'sleep'. 1 Corinthians 15:20 reads, "But now Christ has been raised from the dead, the first fruits of those who are asleep." Here, 'those who are asleep' are the ones who believed the Lord while they lived on the earth and passed away. When the Lord comes in the air, those who are asleep will be resurrected before those who meet the Lord alive. As we read in 1 Thessalonians 4:16, "For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first," the dead body will be raised a spiritual body and it will be united with their spirit that will come from Heaven.
The following verse 17 reads, "Then we who are alive and remain will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we shall always be with the Lord." That is, those who are alive without having experienced death will be caught up into the air and their bodies will be transformed into imperishable spiritual bodies.
- 2. Resurrection stands for 'True Love'
Jesus took the cross to save men who were bound to die and to give them eternal life and Heaven. He loved them not just with words from lips but also in deeds. He gave everything to them. The Lord demonstrated us His love through His death and resurrection. 'Death' comes as the wages of sin, but because He was entirely sinless the Lord couldn't remain bound by death and finally He resurrected. Therefore, the resurrection of the Lord proves that He loved us such that He died on behalf of us who were sinners though He had no sin whatsoever.
His resurrection also shows the great love of God the Father. Committing sin of disobedience, Adam turned his back on the love of God. As a result, he became a man of flesh who can't help but die in accordance with the spiritual law, and his descendants all became sinners so there was no other way but death for them. In order to address the problem of sin, God prepared Jesus before the ages. When His designated time came, God sent His only begotten Son Jesus whom He loved so much to the earth and let Him die by the hands of sinners.
God loved men such that He solved the sin problem by sacrificing His own Son even though they committed sins. What is the reason why God planned the providence of salvation in the cross? This is because He wanted to gain true children who can share His glory and love together forever and ever. He preplanned all things in a bid to give Heaven and eternal life to them and to share true love with them, and He sent His only begotten Son to the earth when the time came, and accomplished the providence of the cross and resurrection, which clearly displayed His love towards men. This true love is still revealed even now although around 2,000 years has passed since the resurrection. It is the true love manifested by God the Holy Spirit. When we accept the Lord who was crucified and resurrected the Holy Spirit came into our hearts.
Then, our spirits that were dead are revived by the Spirit. And by the help of the Spirit we will become qualified to be God's children when we live according to the Word of God. The greatest love in the world is the love with which we can die on others' behalf. Jesus demonstrated such great love by dying on the cross for us who were nothing but sinners. Also, He confirmed again that His love is true by overcoming death and resurrecting.
- 3. Resurrection stands for 'True Faith'
Jesus believed that God would achieve the providence of salvation through crucifixion. He obeyed the will of God joyfully and fulfilled it by taking the cross. Jesus sometimes had to suffer from ungrounded persecutions and be put under the threat of life. While bearing the cross, He was left alone and forsaken by God. This is because He had to take all sins of men and carry the cross as if He were a sinner. But Jesus completely trusted God even in the last moment of death on the cross. He believed that He would be resurrected after the crucifixion and that God would let Him enjoy great glory.
If we fully, completely and uncompromisingly trust God just as Jesus did, we can live in faith without attachment to the worldly things. 'To put complete trust in God' means believing that God will let us be resurrected and give us Heaven. Those who have true faith don't set hope on the earth where they are staying just for a while. They don't love the worldly things that are perishable. They cast away sins every day and try to become sanctified because they have hope for Heaven. They are faithful for the kingdom of God to the point of death even in any kind of sufferings, and their faithfulness is unchangeable. I hope you will put strong belief in God who will let you experience the resurrection of life and have hope for the glory that will be given to you on the day of resurrection although you are faced with sufferings and persecutions.
If you suffer hardship, though you have not committed any transgression, God will bless you through the suffering. Isaiah 49:15-16 reads, "Can a woman forget her nursing child and have no compassion on the son of her womb? Even these may forget, but I will not forget you. Behold, I have inscribed you on the palms of My hands; your walls are continually before Me". God can't forget His children, even those who are distanced from God and He inscribes them on the palms of His hands. I hope that you will imprint the great love of God and the love of the Lord on the cross in your heart and enjoy overflowing joy of resurrection.
Maana ya Ufufuo
Usomaji wa Maandiko: Yohana 14:6
Mstari wa Kukariri: 1 Wakorintho 15:20
Rejea: 1 Wathesalonike 4:16–17. Lengo: kuelewa maana ya ufufuo na kuishi tukiwa na tumaini la kufufuka. Yesu aliacha utukufu wote wa mbinguni na kuja duniani akiwa mwanadamu ili kuwaokoa wanadamu wote. Alizaliwa zizini na kuishi katika umaskini. Mwishowe alipigwa mijeledi, akavikwa taji ya miiba na kusulubiwa kwa mateso. Ingawa hakuwa na kosa wala doa, watu walimdharau na kumdhihaki, naye akafa msalabani. Alifanya hayo yote ili kutukomboa kutoka katika dhambi zetu.
Kwa upendo Wake unaozidi haki, njia ya wokovu ilifunguliwa kwa wanadamu wote. Wakristo hushiriki mateso Yake wakati wa Juma la Mateso kwa kufunga kwa upendo na shukrani kwa ajili ya kusulubiwa kwa Yesu. Lakini kwa kuwa Yesu hakuwa na dhambi, alishinda mauti siku ya tatu baada ya kuzikwa na akafufuka. Jumapili ya Pasaka tunakumbuka moyoni ufufuo wa Yesu kutoka kwa wafu na kuutia tena moyoni mwetu maana yake ya kiroho. Natumaini kwa kufanya hivyo tutajazwa tumaini la ufufuo, uzima wa milele na Mbinguni.
- 1. Ufufuo unamaanisha “uzima wa kweli”
Kwa mujibu wa sheria ya kiroho, wenye dhambi wamekusudiwa kufa, kama inavyosema Warumi 6:23: “Mshahara wa dhambi ni mauti.” Watu wote duniani wamezaliwa kama wazao wa Adamu, aliyefanya dhambi, nao hutenda dhambi maishani mwao. Ni kama Warumi 3:10 isemavyo: “Hakuna mwenye haki hata mmoja.” Kwa kuwa watu wote walikuwa wenye dhambi, hakuna mtu aliyeweza kutatua tatizo la dhambi. Lakini Yesu alikuja duniani na kuwaokoa wanadamu waliokuwa wamehukumiwa kufa.
Ili kutukomboa kutoka katika dhambi, alikufa msalabani, unaoashiria laana. Lakini kwa kuwa hakuwa na dhambi yoyote, alishinda mauti na kufufuka siku ya tatu baada ya kuzikwa. Hivyo akawa limbuko la ufufuo. Yeyote anayeliamini jambo hili na kumkubali Yesu kuwa Mwokozi wake binafsi anaweza kuepuka mauti inayoletwa na dhambi na kupata uzima wa milele. Kama ilivyoandikwa katika 1 Wakorintho 15:22, “Kwa kuwa kama katika Adamu wote wanakufa, kadhalika na katika Kristo wote watahuishwa.” Hata hivyo, watu wengi hawafikirii kuhusu tatizo la dhambi na mauti linalowakabili. Hudhani tu kwamba hakuna kitu kinachofuata baada ya kufa.
Hawakubali kwamba kuna maisha baada ya kifo. Wenye dhambi watakufa kimwili, lakini huo si mwisho wa maisha yao. Baada ya maisha yao duniani, si miili yao tu itakayokufa; watakabiliwa pia na mauti ya kiroho, yaani mateso ya Motoni. Hapo awali, mauti hiyo ndiyo iliyokuwa inawasubiri watu wote. Lakini Bwana alitupa uzima wa kweli, akatuwezesha kuishi milele na kufurahia uzima Mbinguni bila kuguswa na mauti. Bila shaka, watu wengi waliookolewa walimaliza maisha yao duniani na kufa. Lakini Biblia huita kifo chao “usingizi.” 1 Wakorintho 15:20 yasema, “Lakini sasa Kristo amefufuka katika wafu, limbuko lao waliolala.” “Waliolala” hapa ni wale waliomwamini Bwana walipokuwa hai duniani kisha wakafariki. Bwana atakapokuja mawinguni, waliolala watafufuka kabla ya wale watakaokuwa hai na kukutana Naye. Kama 1 Wathesalonike 4:16 isemavyo, “Bwana mwenyewe atashuka kutoka mbinguni pamoja na mwaliko, na sauti ya malaika mkuu, na parapanda ya Mungu; nao waliokufa katika Kristo watafufuliwa kwanza.” Mwili uliokufa utainuliwa kuwa mwili wa kiroho na kuungana na roho yao itakayokuja kutoka Mbinguni.
Mstari wa 17 unaendelea: “Kisha sisi tulio hai, tuliosalia, tutanyakuliwa pamoja nao katika mawingu, ili tumlaki Bwana hewani; na hivyo tutakuwa pamoja na Bwana milele.” Yaani, wale watakaokuwa hai bila kupitia kifo watanyakuliwa hewani na miili yao itabadilishwa kuwa miili ya kiroho isiyoharibika.
- 2. Ufufuo unamaanisha “upendo wa kweli”
Yesu alikubali kusulubiwa ili kuwaokoa watu waliokuwa wamefungwa na mauti na kuwapa uzima wa milele na Mbinguni. Hakuwapenda kwa maneno tu, bali pia kwa matendo; aliwapa kila kitu. Bwana alituonyesha upendo Wake kupitia kifo na ufufuo Wake. Mauti huja kama mshahara wa dhambi, lakini kwa kuwa Bwana hakuwa na dhambi kabisa, hangeweza kubaki chini ya mauti, naye hatimaye akafufuka. Kwa hiyo ufufuo wa Bwana unathibitisha kwamba alitupenda kiasi cha kufa kwa niaba yetu wenye dhambi, ingawa Yeye Mwenyewe hakuwa na dhambi.
Ufufuo Wake pia unaonyesha upendo mkuu wa Mungu Baba. Adamu alitenda dhambi ya kutotii na kugeuka kutoka katika upendo wa Mungu. Matokeo yake akawa mtu wa mwili, aliyepaswa kufa kulingana na sheria ya kiroho; wazao wake wote wakawa wenye dhambi na hawakuwa na njia nyingine ila kufa. Ili kutatua tatizo la dhambi, Mungu alimwandaa Yesu tangu kabla ya kuwekwa misingi ya dunia. Wakati uliowekwa ulipofika, Mungu alimtuma duniani Mwana Wake wa pekee, Yesu, aliyempenda sana, naye akamruhusu auawe mikononi mwa wenye dhambi.
Mungu aliwapenda wanadamu kiasi cha kutatua tatizo la dhambi kwa kutoa dhabihu ya Mwana Wake, ingawa wao walitenda dhambi. Kwa nini Mungu alipanga mpango wa wokovu kupitia msalaba? Alitaka kupata watoto wa kweli ambao wangeshiriki utukufu na upendo Wake milele. Alipanga mambo yote ili kuwapa Mbinguni na uzima wa milele na kushiriki nao upendo wa kweli. Wakati ulipofika, akamtuma duniani Mwana Wake wa pekee na kutimiza mpango wa msalaba na ufufuo, akionyesha wazi upendo Wake kwa wanadamu. Upendo huu wa kweli unaendelea kudhihirika hata sasa, karibu miaka 2,000 baada ya ufufuo. Ni upendo wa kweli unaodhihirishwa na Mungu Roho Mtakatifu. Tulipomkubali Bwana aliyesulubiwa na kufufuka, Roho Mtakatifu aliingia mioyoni mwetu.
Kisha Roho akaifufua roho yetu iliyokuwa imekufa. Kwa msaada wa Roho, tunastahili kuwa watoto wa Mungu tunapoishi kulingana na Neno Lake. Upendo mkuu zaidi duniani ni upendo unaotuwezesha kufa kwa ajili ya wengine. Yesu alionyesha upendo huo mkuu alipokufa msalabani kwa ajili yetu tuliokuwa wenye dhambi tu. Pia alithibitisha tena kwamba upendo Wake ni wa kweli kwa kushinda mauti na kufufuka.
- 3. Ufufuo unamaanisha “imani ya kweli”
Yesu aliamini kwamba Mungu angetimiza mpango wa wokovu kupitia kusulubiwa. Alitii mapenzi ya Mungu kwa furaha na kuyatimiza kwa kubeba msalaba. Nyakati nyingine Yesu aliteswa kwa mashtaka yasiyo na msingi na kutishiwa kuuawa. Alipokuwa amebeba msalaba, aliachwa peke Yake na Mungu. Hii ni kwa sababu alipaswa kuchukua dhambi zote za wanadamu na kuubeba msalaba kana kwamba alikuwa mwenye dhambi. Lakini hata katika dakika za mwisho za maisha Yake msalabani, Yesu alimwamini Mungu kabisa. Aliamini kwamba angefufuka baada ya kusulubiwa na Mungu angempa utukufu mkuu.
Tukimwamini Mungu kikamilifu na bila kusita kama Yesu, tunaweza kuishi kwa imani bila kung'ang'ania mambo ya dunia. Kumtumaini Mungu kabisa ni kuamini kwamba atatufufua na kutupa Mbinguni. Wenye imani ya kweli hawaliweki tumaini lao duniani wanapokaa kwa muda mfupi tu, wala hawavipendi vitu vya dunia vinavyoharibika. Huondoa dhambi kila siku na kujitahidi kutakaswa kwa sababu wana tumaini la Mbinguni. Hata wakikabiliwa na mateso ya namna gani, huwa waaminifu kwa ufalme wa Mungu hadi kufa, na uaminifu wao haubadiliki. Natumaini mtamwamini Mungu kwa nguvu, Yeye atakayewawezesha kupata ufufuo wa uzima na kutumaini utukufu mtakaopokea siku ya ufufuo hata mkikabili mateso na dhuluma.
Ukiteseka ingawa hujatenda kosa lolote, Mungu atakubariki kupitia mateso hayo. Isaya 49:15–16 yasema, “Je! Mwanamke aweza kumsahau mtoto wake anyonyaye, hata asimhurumie mwana wa tumbo lake? Naam, hawa waweza kusahau, lakini Mimi sitakusahau wewe. Tazama, nimekuchora katika vitanga vya mikono Yangu; kuta zako ziko mbele Zangu daima.” Mungu hawezi kuwasahau watoto Wake, hata wale walio mbali Naye; amewachora katika vitanga vya mikono Yake. Natumaini mtauweka moyoni upendo mkuu wa Mungu na upendo wa Bwana msalabani, na kufurahia kwa wingi furaha ya ufufuo.