It's the Most Wonderful Time of the Year

What is the most exciting time of the year? Birthdays and anniversaries are high on our list because of the wonderful memories associated with them. We like vacation time. Some people plan elaborate trips and cruises while others just like the time away from school and work. Christmas is at the top of many lists. Family, friends, and the joy of seeing the children open presents is the highlight of many calendars. Of course, Christmas is an exciting time in the church calendar as well. Remembering the nativity is an activity worth celebrating and we spend a lot of time and effort each year doing just that. Each of those events is wonderfully exciting, but should they be the most exciting time of our year?

We are quickly approaching what, as Christians, should be our most exciting time of the year. Many times Christmas is the highlight of our church calendar, but the events we celebrate during Holy Week give meaning and purpose to Christmas. If Jesus had not died and risen again, His birth would be insignificant. But not only would his birth be insignificant, all of the rest of life would be meaningless. The Apostle Paul put it this way in 1 Corinthians 15:12-19,

Now if Christ is preached, that He has been raised from the dead, how do some among you say that there is no resurrection of the dead? But if there is no resurrection of the dead, not even Christ has been raised; and if Christ has not been raised, then our preaching is vain, your faith also is vain. Moreover we are even found to be false witnesses of God, because we testified against God that He raised Christ, whom He did not raise, if in fact the dead are not raised. For if the dead are not raised, not even Christ has been raised; and if Christ has not been raised, your faith is worthless; you are still in your sins. Then those also who have fallen asleep in Christ have perished. If we have hoped in Christ in this life only, we are of all men most to be pitied.

If Jesus had not died on the cross that first Good Friday and risen again that first Easter morning, we are in a pitiful state of existence. The words we speak are as insignificant as a puff of wind if Jesus is not alive. The lives we live are more futile than the life of a withering blade of grass if Jesus is not alive. Our faith is in vain and we are still in our sins. The worst part is, if Jesus is not alive, there is no hope for anything to get any better. As a matter of fact, if Jesus isn’t alive, the poor circumstances and difficulties of our lives are the best that it gets. Indeed, Paul was right. If Jesus isn’t alive today, we are the most pitiful people on the planet.

But Jesus is ALIVE today! He is RISEN! Hallelujah, praise God! And because He is alive, we have hope. We have purpose. Life has meaning and direction and fulfillment. Is that enough to excite us and make us celebrate? Certainly more so than vacations and holidays and birthdays and anniversaries.