Surrection—Insurrection—Resurrection
You know you are a word geek when the spell checker says a word is incorrect because it does not know it. But this is no typo. Surrection is a word used for the geological process of rising or upheaval that causes emergence, when things come out of the ground.
The three words above, describe the progression of Christ’s life. This Good Friday I will speak about the last three words of Jesus on the cross. Jesus cried out, “It is finished!” But what was finished, and what is all this three weird words business? I’m glad you asked. Let me explain.
Surrection—Christ resurfaced from a town of complete obscurity years after His miraculous birth. They kept insisting He could not be the Messiah because He did not come from Bethlehem, or so they thought. When the time was right, he began to reveal who He was. What He did and said created a pivotal, historic, religious and social upheaval.
Insurrection—It means a violent rising up to overthrow authorities who are in control. Christ was meek and gentle, but He spoke of binding the strong man, casting down the ruler of this world from his power and robbing the house of the enemy of God. He challenged every unrighteous political or religious power, be it the Romans, Herod or the Pharisees and Sadducees. The gates of hell could not stand against His kingdom and that meant it could now be entered and plundered. All those held under the authority of the enemy since Eden could now be released (Luke 13:16).
Resurrection—Anastasis in Greek means standing up or rising again. It means more than bodily revival or resuscitation though. Christ was not the first to come back from the dead in the Bible, but He was the first to come back under the new resurrection. He is called the first born from the dead (Colossians 1:18) as the first of the new creation. He did not come back like he was before, but as a new creation, with a new body, and we will too.
Because we are reborn of the Spirit of God, our resurrection will be like His (1 John 3:2). Without the resurrection of Easter, our faith is in vain (1 Corinthians 15:14–17).
We celebrate Easter when other countries celebrate spring, the true new year. At springtime the sleepy death of winter gives way to the life-giving light of spring. In Azerbaijan and Iran, the new year is called Novruz and is celebrated with food, parties and gifts, like the wheatgrass you see above.
The surrection, insurrection and resurrection of Christ brought new life and freedom to the earth, not merely forgiveness for our sins. As John told us, He is making all things new (Revelation 21:5). ALL THINGS. Death is dying, but life is rising up! A happy, joyful, life-giving Easter to you all. He is risen—Risen indeed!
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Chris Jones is the Global Outreach Director at New Hope Church. He longs for the unreached people of the world to experience the life-changing love of God and for people at New Hope Church to find fullness of joy by obeying the Great Commission.