Day 8: Anastasis
Scripture Reading: Matthew 28:1–10; Romans 6:3–5; 1 Corinthians 15:20–22
The Road: The Stone Rolled Away
The road we have walked for seven days ends here, or rather, it begins here. Early on Sunday morning, the women returned to the tomb, expecting to find a body wrapped in the silence of Saturday. Instead, they found the stone rolled away and the tomb empty.
Matthew tells us in Matthew 28:2 (NIV) that, “There was a violent earthquake, for an angel of the Lord came down from heaven and, going to the tomb, rolled back the stone and sat on it”.
I don’t want us to miss this. The stone was not rolled away to let Jesus out; His resurrected body could pass through walls. The stone was rolled away to let us in. It was moved so that we could see evidence that the debt was paid, that the "House of Misery" was vacant, and that the King was alive.
The Greek word for Resurrection is Anastasis (ἀνάστασις) which is a mixture of two Greek words:
Ana (ἀνά): A prefix that means "up," "again," or "back."
Stasis (στάσις): from the verb histēmi, meaning "to stand" or "to cause to stand."
When combined, the literal meaning is "The Standing Up Again."
Throughout this week, we have seen things fall. We saw the "stones" of the Temple prophesied to fall. We saw the disciples’ courage fall. We saw Jesus fall under the weight of the Cross. We saw His body fall into the ground like a seed. But Easter is the Great Anastasis.
It is the moment where God causes life to Stand Up.
Bios (biological life) bowed to death.
Zoe (divine life) kicked the door of the tomb open.
This is not just a “metaphor” or a “spiritual” idea about Jesus living on in our memories. It was a real, physical, historical event. The lungs that had collapsed with fluid took a deep breath. The heart that had been pierced started to beat again with a rhythm that will never stop.
The Sacrament: Buried and Raised
Today at ANCC, we are celebrating Baptism. There is no better day for this. Baptism is the theatre of the Resurrection. When a believer stands in the water, they are testifying to their Friday, "I am crucified with Christ." When they go under the water, they are testifying to their Saturday, "I am buried with Him. My old habits, my old hurts, my 'body of sin' are left in the grave." When they come up out of the water, they are testifying to their Sunday, "I am raised to walk in newness of life."
As you watch the baptisms today, you are witnessing Anastasis in real time. You are seeing people publicly declare that the "Human Subtraction" of their old life has been replaced by the "Divine Addition" of God’s Spirit.
Application: Living in Resurrection
The fast is over. You have spent seven days detoxing, pruning, and waiting. Now, you must shift gears. You are no longer in the "House of Misery." You are a carrier of the Resurrection.
To live in "Resurrection Mode" means to live with an offensive hope. It means looking at the "dead things" in your family, your city, and your world, and believing that if God can empty a tomb, He can fix a marriage. If He can bring healing, He can conquer addiction. We do not fast for victory; we fast to prepare our hearts to receive the victory that was won this morning.
Today’s Focus: The Feast the Fast is Over!
Today, we do not fast. Today, we feast.
Celebrate: Eat with joy today. Let your meal be a prophetic act of celebration.
Rejoice: If you are at the service, cheer for those being baptised. Their story is your story.
Declare: As you go into this new week, declare over your life: "He is Risen, and I am risen with Him."
PRAYER
Heavenly Father, Christ is Risen! He is Risen indeed! I thank You that the silence is broken. I thank You that the stone is gone. I thank You that the check marked "Paid in Full" has cleared the bank of Heaven. Today, I celebrate Anastasis. I celebrate the standing up of my hope, my joy, and my future. I pray for everyone entering the waters of baptism today, seal them with Your power. Lord, I leave this week of fasting not empty, but full. I am full of Your Zoe life. I go out into the world not as a victim of the times, but as a victor in Christ. The tomb is empty. My heart is full. Hallelujah! In Jesus’ Precious name, Amen.
