We occasionally read moving stories of natural disasters where someone who was thought to have perished is found to be alive. What a moment! In the blink of an eye, sadness and despair are replaced with joy and celebration. From “death” to life is a moment never to forget, a moment to cherish forever.

As amazing as such reunions are, they don’t remove the fact that a different separation awaits us all—the separation of death. And many live in “fear of death” their whole life (Hebrews 2:15). But no one needs to live in such fear. The miracle of the resurrection we celebrate this weekend means that an eternal reunion awaits all who die in Christ. As Jesus told His friends Mary and Martha, “He who believes in Me, though he may die, he shall live” (John 11:25). This weekend brings showers of hope to all who have lost a loved one, and showers of hope for our own eternal life.

Have you experienced showers of hope through faith in Christ? Celebrate two resurrections this Easter weekend: Christ’s and your own!

Christianity is in its very essence a resurrection religion.

John R. W. Stott