What a powerful phrase: “newness of life.” So many of our life experiences involve weakening, decline, waning, and fading. But every Spring, by God’s good design, “Faithfulness springs up from the ground, and righteousness looks down from the sky” (Psa 85:11), reminding us once again that our Creator specializes in “newness of life.” Slow down, focus, and you’ll see and hear it all around you this week. Green grass. Pink flowers. Brilliant blue skies. Chirping baby birds. Life on earth is being renewed.
But the greatest sign of all is the life, death, burial, and resurrection of God’s own Son. That’s why Christians are gathering together all over the world today—to remember, reflect, and proclaim what Jesus accomplished among us.
He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, that we might die to sin and live to righteousness. (1 Pet 2:24)
I don’t know how quickly you read over that last sentence, but I need you to pause, maybe reread and think about it. Really zero in. Notice that we’re not simply being told about someone who lived a long time ago and died a tragic death. We’re being called to participate in something.
What shall we say then? Are we to continue in sin that grace may abound? By no means! How can we who died to sin still live in it? Do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? We were buried therefore with him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life. (Rom 6:1-4)
Are you listening? Are you following the inspired train of thought? Jesus died, but more than that, Jesus died so that you might die to sin. Jesus was buried, yes, but Jesus was buried in order that you might bury your old self in the watery grave of baptism and be set free from slavery to sin. Jesus was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, absolutely, but Jesus was raised so that you could be raised from spiritual death to righteousness.
By all means, let’s soberly remember today. Jesus died on a cross. Let’s humbly reflect today. He himself bore my sins in his body. Let’s joyfully and wholeheartedly proclaim today. “By his wounds anyone can be healed.” But let’s not stop there. Discipleship isn’t just a “Sunday activity” with no real bearing on the rest of my week or life.
Jesus died, was buried, and was raised that you might walk for the rest of your God-given time on earth in newness of life, as a renewed way of life. So let’s remember, reflect, proclaim, and live to the glory of the Creator and Savior who continues to graciously specialize, day after day, season after season, year after year, in newness of life.