Do you have a tradition in your Easter morning service where each one turns to another and says “He is Risen!” and then the other responds with “He is Risen Indeed!” I don’t mean to wrangle over semantics, but I think A. B. Simpson makes a good case for distinguishing between RISEN and RESURRECTED.
One may rise from one level to another; but when one is resurrected he is brought from nothing into existence, from death to life. A true Christian does not rise, but is resurrected. The great objection to all the teachings of mere natural religion and human ethics is that they teach us to rise to higher planes. The Christian life is not about self-improvement, but it is wholly supernatural and divine. Resurrection cannot come until there has been death, and just as real as the death has been will be the measure of the resurrection life and power (The Christ Life).
On this Easter, I fear that too many will be teaching that Jesus’ resurrection means we too will be able to rise to greater heights, achieve our goals and dreams, and reach our full potential. Let’s have none of that. Let us remember that our co-death and co-resurrection with Jesus (Ro. 6:1-11) means we have been raised from the grave of our nothingness to be seated with Him in heavenly places” (Eph. 2:6).
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