He is Risen

Jesus said to her, "I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me will live, even though he dies; and whoever lives and believes in me will never die. Do you believe this?"
John 11:25, 26

Today, many Christians celebrate the resurrection of Jesus from the dead. The celebration of Easter has become far removed from its Jewish roots and the link to Passover. Jesus died on the day of the Jewish Passover and became the fulfillment of Old Testament ritual and symbolism. The resurrection message was central to the gospel of the early Christian church and the hope of eternal life through Jesus Christ was preached by the apostles.

Centuries after Jesus' death and resurrection, the church distanced itself from the Jewish religion and incorporated the celebration of Oeastre, the Teutonic goddess of spring and dawn, in the celebration of Easter. Like Christmas, its spiritual message is frequently lost in the commercialism of the day.

This does not really matter as Christians can celebrate the resurrection on any and every day.

As nature renews itself in the spring season, we are reminded of the promised transformation that leads us from death to life. In the busyness of our days and our own efforts to extend our lives, we often forget that our hope is not in this world, but is based on faith in the risen Lord.

For the perishable must clothe itself with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality. When the perishable has been clothed with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality, then the saying that is written will come true:

"Death has been swallowed up in victory."
"Where, O death, is your victory?
Where, O death, is your sting?"

The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.
1 Corinthians 15:53-57

Photos taken at a family cemetery in Canada and from my parents' home in Tepic, Nayarit, Mexico.