“Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on the things above, where Christ is seated on the right hand of God.”

What is the defining event in life?

Easter, the celebration of the resurrection of Jesus, is the most defining event in the history of humanity.  Even when you consider other events such as September 11th, the tearing down of the Berlin Wall and the Iron Curtain, the assassinations of Martin Luther King and President Kennedy, the holocaust, the attack on Pearl Harbor, the World Wars, none have impacted civilization as greatly as the resurrection of Jesus.  There has been and there never will be an event that has defined the history of humanity like the resurrection of Jesus.

What is the defining event in your life?

As I reflected on this question this week, I realized that my life has been defined by many relationships and many experiences.  My life began being defined as Bob and Alice’s youngest son.  My great-grandmother defined me as a spitzpoop, because as she saw me, I was a little devil growing up.  I entered high school being defined as the kid who broke his leg the first day of football practice.  Three years later I was defined as Diane DiGioia’s boyfriend, then fiancée, and then husband.  Over the next thirty years I have been defined as Adam and Greg’s Dad, Pastor, Coach, and most recently my 50th birthday has defined me as being over the hill.

Each one of us have had events or relationships that define our lives.  This was true even with Jesus.  When He asked the disciples,

“Who do they say I am?”

The disciples answered, “John the Baptist, Elijah, one of the prophets.” Peter answered, “You are the Christ, the son of God.” In the garden that first Easter morning Mary referred to Jesus as ‘my Lord’ and ‘Rabboni,’ which means teacher.

Jesus said,

“I am the bread of life, the vine, the good shepherd, the way, the truth and the life.”

With each ‘I am’ statement Jesus defined who He was to the world with His resurrection being His exclamation point.

“I am the resurrection and the life,
whoever believes in me will not die.”

The comic strip BC, yesterday pictured two characters sitting and talking. The one said to the other, “Oh, my goodness…says here…Jesus descended into hell.”  “You’re kidding!”  the other exclaimed.   “Oh, no…Not to stay!” responded the other “He just dropped in to cancel our reservations.”

Paul certainly concurred that Jesus has indeed cancelled our reservations in hell when he said,

“Since, then, you have been
raised with Christ,
set your hearts on the things above,
where Christ is seated
on the right hand of God.”

Let me ask you how do you know that you have been raised with Christ?

You could appeal to the scripture that states,

“If you confess with your tongue
that Jesus is Lord
and believe in your heart
that God raised Him from the dead,
you will be saved.”

Aside from scripture, how do you know you have been raised with Christ?

Paul says that if you have been raised with Christ you set your heart and mind on the things above?  Do you?  Do you set your heart and mind on things above?  The life application Bible states, “To set you mind on things above means to look at life from God’s perspective and to seek what God desires.  Setting your mind on things above means striving to put heaven’s priorities into daily practice.”

Is this how your life is defined that you look at life from God’s perspective, as one who seeks what God desires?  Or is your life defined by your job?  A relationship?  A life-changing event?

I don’t want my life to be defined by my occupation.  I don’t want my life to be defined by my friendships.  I don’t want my life to be defined by my religious believes or practices.  I don’t want to known as a pillar of the church.

I want my life to be defined by my love for Jesus, by my relationship with Jesus.  To settle for anything less is to settle for second best.  To settle for anything less means I only have a sentimental interest in Easter.

What is your interest in Easter?  Is your interest sentimental?  Is your interest experiencing a life defining moment?

When Paul said,

“You have been raised with Christ,
set your hearts on the things above,
where Christ is seated
on the right hand of God.”

He was indeed proclaiming that Jesus cancelled yours and mine reservations in hell. He did this not so we could be sentimental, but so that day by day we could live in harmony with Him more and more.  So that everyday we would set our minds on Christ.  So that everyday we would

“put to death whatever belongs
to our earthly nature:
sexual immorality, impurity, lust,
evil desires, greed…anger, rage, malice, slander, and filthy language.”

So that everyday we would

“clothe ourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness,
and patience.”

So that everyday we would

“bearing with each other
and forgive whatever grievances
we may have against one another,
and over all these put on love.”

So that everyday

“whatever we do,
whether in word or deed,
we would do it all
in the name of the Lord Jesus,
giving thanks to God
the Father through Him.”

Easter demands more than sentimental alleluias.  Easter demands your heart, your mind, your all.  After all, you define Jesus’ life. He died on the cross for you.  He destroyed the power of death for you.  Jesus was willing to have His life defined by you and me.

Are you willing to have Jesus
define who you are?