“Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit of life set me free from the law of sin and death.” - Romans 8:1-2
Reflection by Bill Ticknor+
Today, Jesus’ crucified body is lying in the tomb. Tonight, at the Easter Vigil, our scripture readings will take us from the beginning of creation all the way through the death and resurrection of our Savior. Can we even begin to comprehend what was going on in the minds of Jesus’ loved ones? Their hearts clearly had been torn asunder by his horrifying and humiliating death on the cross. All sense of hope was gone! They had to have been totally devastated.
But, we live on this side of the Easter Vigil, and it is in light of that reality that Paul in his letter to the Church in Rome was able to write: “Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.” Do you understand what Paul is saying? “Therefore there is no condemnation.”
In his book, The Applause of Heaven, Max Lucado writes: “For those in Christ, these promises are not only a source of joy. They are also the foundations of true courage. You are guaranteed that your sins will be filtered through, hidden in, and screened out by the sacrifice of Jesus. When God looks at you, he doesn’t see you: he sees the One who surrounds you. That means that failure is not a concern for you. Your victory is secure. How could you not be courageous?”
The key words for us are “For those in Christ.” Throughout this Lent we have hopefully been “In Christ” through his wilderness experience, we have been “In Christ” during his crucifixion, and now by God’s Grace we are “In Christ Jesus” in the new life of the resurrection.
