Easter has just passed. Throughout Lent, we meditated deeply on the cross — the love of the Lord toward us, how our sin killed Jesus, how we repent, and how we are saved. But what comes next?
Faith cannot stop at the cross, because the Lord did not stop at the cross. He rose again. And that means we too must rise with him. Moving from the cross toward the resurrection — this is the complete gospel.
Do we truly understand the resurrection?
We all know the formula: the gospel = the cross + the resurrection. But ask yourself honestly — in your own life of faith, do you hold the cross and the resurrection as equally important? How much time have you spent meditating on the cross, and how much time meditating on the resurrection?
For many people, faith stops at the cross — repentance, salvation — and when it comes to the resurrection, they nod along, assume it doesn’t really change much for them personally, and continue living exactly as before. The result is a faith that has the right shape but has lost its power; religious form with no living force. This is precisely what Paul warned about: “And if Christ has not been raised, then our preaching is in vain and your faith is in vain.” (1 Corinthians 15:14)
The resurrection and justification
Romans 4:25 declares: “He was delivered up for our trespasses and raised for our justification.” This raises a crucial question — if the Lord already said “It is finished” on the cross, why do we need the resurrection for our justification? Was the cross not enough?
That is not what this means. The atoning work of the cross is completely sufficient. As our substitute, the Lord shed his blood and laid down his life, and our debt of sin has been paid in full. So what, then, is the meaning of the resurrection?
The resurrection is the guarantee — the confirmation of the victory won at the cross. Consider this: if the Lord had only died and never risen, how would we know that his death was any different from anyone else’s? How would we know he truly overcame sin and death, rather than being imprisoned by darkness like all the rest? What would our faith be standing on?
It is the empty tomb, it is the resurrection, that proclaims to the whole world: his death was an effective atonement, his blood truly cleanses us, he truly brings us into the presence of God, and our eternal life is secure. Calvin captured this with two Latin phrases — Crux est initium, the cross is the beginning; Resurrectio est consummatio, the resurrection is the completion. The cross is the accomplishment of salvation; the resurrection is its guarantee. The cross is the Lord’s love toward us — and so is the resurrection. Neither can stand without the other.
Don’t just know the resurrection — encounter the risen Lord
Here lies the most practical challenge. After the Lord rose from the dead, did the disciples know about it? Yes. Did they believe it? They locked themselves in a room, trembling with fear. The two disciples on the road to Emmaus had heard that the Lord had risen, yet they were still walking away in despair, heading back to their hometown.
Why? Because they had only heard about the resurrection. They had not yet encountered the risen Lord.
It was only when he appeared to them himself — walking alongside them, breaking bread with them — that their eyes were opened, their hearts burned within them, and they turned around and went back. This is a mirror for us. The resurrection can remain a piece of theological knowledge, or it can become a life-changing encounter.
Ask yourself: is your understanding of the resurrection knowledge in your head, or experience in your life? Is there evidence of resurrection in your daily living — new hope, new strength, a new direction? Or are you like those two disciples — you’ve heard about it, nodded your head, and are still walking down the road back home?
The forty days following Easter are the days when the risen Lord appeared to his disciples on earth. This is not merely history — it is an invitation. Don’t remain at the repentance of the cross. Don’t remain at the knowledge of the resurrection. Go and encounter the risen Lord.
He is still calling your name, just as he called Mary’s name. When he calls you, you will recognize him. And when you recognize him, you will know that what we believe is not in vain.
“He was delivered up for our trespasses and raised for our justification.” — Romans 4:25