Easter Changes Everything

I. Easter's Original Context
Jesus is defeated: a blasphemer, a false prophet, a criminal.
The Father is implicated: approving, absent, powerless, indifferent, or bad.

(Pastor Cheryl Fletcher: "If Jesus Christ isn't God, then there is no God.")

The disciples are hopeless: the rules haven't changed after all.

II. Easter Phenomena Solidify Theology's Foundation
Witnesses testify to a series of events they understand as both historical and of vast significance:
The Empty Tomb

(Not a late or unreliable tradition; see Matt 28:15, 1 Cor 15:3-5.)
Fear and confusion result.

Resurrection Appearances

(Not a spirit! Luke 24:37-39, John 20:19-20, 1 Cor 15:35-57.)

His disciples' fear turns to joy and their silence to proclamation.

Teachings of the Risen Jesus

What does it mean? The risen Jesus solidifies the church's foundation,
leading disciples to new awareness of his significance (Luke 24:44-48, John 14:26).
Disciples reflect further on Jesus using the OT and Jesus' life story

(C.H. Dodd, The Apostolic Preaching and According to the Scriptures).

The Gift of the Holy Spirit

Jesus' disciples receive the Holy Spirit whom the Father shared with him (Luke 24:49, John 20:19-23, Acts 2, Gal 4:6-7, cf. 3:1-5).
Jesus' works persist and multiply among his followers (John 14:12-17).

III. The Resurrection's Revolutionary Impacts and Implications Build on It

The rejected and crucified Jesus' resurrection grounds all Christian teaching,

transforming disciples' lives and thought as they build on it.

What had seemed 'the end' became the hub
(as railroads transformed "Terminus" into "Atlanta").

Its main 'ground-floor' implication is that Jesus is alive!

This is the fundamental Easter confession of the church.
More than a message, this good news is a powerful 'ground floor' process (Phil 1:7, 27, 2:14-15, 3:14, 17, 4:3, 15, etc.)
that multiplies, transforms, and spreads through social networks like yeast (Matt 13:33).

Paul's shorthand for the disciple-making process is 'the gospel' (Latin bona nova) whereas Luke's is 'the Word of God.'

Jesus' invigorated church gains faith, hope, and love in the Spirit he shares (Rom 5:1-11, 8:11),

as his disciples take on his offices and mission (John 20:21, Eph 4:7-16).

'Second floor' implications span all major Christian teachings:
The risen Jesus (like the vindicated Snape in Harry Potter) was right all along, and proven trustworthy.

So Jesus really was and is Lord (Phil 2:11), demanding our total allegiance.

He was raised (1 Cor 15:4)—so God is Triune (Rom 8:11).

(Hilary of Portiers on John 20:28: "God is one, but not alone.")

Jesus has won (Rev 1:18)! God's love triumphs over sinners and our tactics of division

(Hans Urs von Balthasar, Mysterium Paschale).

Resurrection is not 'mere' resuscitation but the firstfruits of God's promised new creation (1 Cor 15:42-44).

Illustration: Grünewald's Isenheim Altarpiece.

That means the eschaton ("end-times") has begun.
The raising of Jesus' body (Luke 24:36-43) confirms that salvation involves materiality,

refuting Gnosticism and driving sacramental theology.

A hymn illustrating the building process is "I Know that My Redeemer Lives."