We have heard the Easter Gospel, the Good News of the Resurrection of Jesus of Nazareth, read and proclaimed in word and song, and we rejoice now with exceeding great joy, as the people of the new covenant, because the Bridegroom has been restored to us who are his Bride!

Let us pay heed to the Epistle for Easter Day, Colossians 3:1-11, wherein we are urged to live on earth out of our citizenship of the realms above.

We believe, teach and confess that Jesus Christ was crucified, died, was buried, descended into hell and was raised from the dead and exalted into heaven,

We believe, teach and confess that Jesus died for us to make Atonement for our sins and to reconcile us to God the Father; we believe that he descended into the realm of the dead, even to the depths of hell, to proclaim the victory of his Cross to all who had died before him; we believe that he was raised for our justification so that we might be truly forgiven and become the adopted children of his Father, enjoying communion with him unto ages of ages.

We also believe teach and confess that at our conversion/baptism by the secret and effectual operation of the Holy Ghost we were united to this same Lord Jesus Christ in his death, in his burial and in his resurrection/exaltation [see Romans 6]. For this same Lord Jesus died, was buried and was raised not merely in an individual capacity but by the design and will of his Father in a corporate capacity -- as the Messiah, as the One for the Many, as the Representative & Substitute of Jews and Gentiles. All who believe on his Name are united to him in his saving acts through the presence of his Spirit at their conversion/baptism.

Having affirmed these basic truths we are ready to hear and take to heart, the exhortation of the apostle Paul.

IF THEN YOU HAVE BEEN RAISED WITH CHRIST, SEEK THE THINGS THAT ARE ABOVE WHERE CHRIST IS, SEATED AT THE RIGHT HAND OF THE FATHER. SET YOUR MINDS ON THINGS THAT ARE ABOVE, NOT ON THINGS THAT ARE ON THE EARTH.

"If, as if the case, you have been raised/exalted with Christ (the Saviour of all, our Representative & Substitute)," says Paul then do something about it! And do it now!

Start with SEEKING. "Seek the things above" --- make sure that your will is directed by your mind in the right direction and, going in the right direction, is earnestly moving towards that which it sees. There are things below and things above. That which is below is temporal but that which is above is eternal. The exalted Jesus is above, seated at God's right hand, and so seek HIM there. Seek the things that are above!

And not merely seek the higher realm, but let you thoughts dwell upon it. CONTEMPLATE the things above. Focus your attention, set your affections, use your powers of imagination and meditation to look upon the Lord Jesus Christ, enthroned in glory as your exalted Prophet, Priest and King. Because you are in Christ, united to him for ever, this higher realm is your true home!

Know for a certain that setting your heart and mind and will on things above, will actually give you the greater strength to live as a true disciple of the Lord Jesus here on earth until he calls you home to be with him in glory.

And know also that setting your mind on things below, on things on the earth, is the surest way to have no spiritual and moral strength to be a genuine disciple!

FOR YOU HAVE DIED AND YOUR LIFE IS HID WITH CHRIST IN GOD.

Again we are reminded by the apostle of the truth symbolized in our baptism. We are united to Christ Jesus, we are enclosed in his glorified humanity (human nature) and thus our life is hid with Christ [the Incarnate Son] in God the Holy Trinity. We are dead to sin but alive unto God and are to live on earth accordingly (see verses 5-11).

We are Easter people who live not only by the fact of the Resurrection and Exaltation of the Son of God, but who also live in and with and through the Incarnate Son, the Lord Jesus Christ, to the Father by the presence and indwelling of the Holy Ghost.

Alleluia and Alleluia.

The Revd Dr Peter Toon, Easter Day, 2002