Sitting on my desk is this marvelous icon of The Resurrection from the Orthodox Church tradition. The imagery is so rich! The resurrected Christ stands at the center of the scene. Having come through the great tribulation of his death, he entered Sheol and is rescuing our first parents, Adam and Eve. To his left, stand Moses–the great lawgiver, and John the Baptist whose only job was to point to the coming Messiah. On his right, King David and King Solomon stand to remind us of Christ’s authority as King of heaven and earth. Christ stands upon a cross, the presumed lids of Adam and Eve’s grave. With the cross, Satan is bound, and Jesus is crushing Satan under his feet (Romans 16:20). The keys and chains and weapons of death no longer can reach Him, them, or us!
As your pastor it serves as a reminder of what it is that I am to preach among you: Christ and him crucified. The attack of sin and the law; the consequence of which is death (Romans 6:23). But in Christ, we are raised to new life! Every time you come to church, I stand in Christ’s stead, doling out death and resurrection again to you, the children of God.
But as a Christian, I am reminded that this is my life too…I am dead in sin, but also raised to new life in Christ. (Romans 6:1-11).
The good news of Easter continues! Come and hear it! Go to live in it!
Pastor Culynn