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RESURRECTION
Christ Is Risen!

A Commentary by Constance Vanides

There’s an ancient icon in the Eastern Orthodox tradition, commemorating the Resurrection of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. In the stylized Byzantine rendering we see the figure of Jesus, the traditional halo of light surrounding His head, trampling the gates of Hades. The One, first resurrected from the dead, extends His arms to bring up from Abraham’s Bosom two figures. He is raising up Adam with Eve from death into life!

    Here, in this Resurrection icon, we see Christ pictured descended into Hades, bringing forth the first of old testament saints, Adam and Eve.

The iconographer is depicting the Biblical truth of scripture that helps us to understand, “…whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.” (John 3:16) In the icon we see the first man, Adam, the first natural living being, raised up by the second Adam, the life-giving spirit.

“However, the spiritual is not first, but the natural, and afterward the spiritual. The first man was of the earth, made of dust; the second Man is the Lord from heaven. As was the man of dust, so also are those who are made of dust; and as is the heavenly Man, so also are those who are heavenly. And as we have borne the image of the man of dust, we shall also bear the image of the heavenly Man.” (I Corinthians 15:46-49)

The perfect sacrifice, Jesus Christ, removes the sins of man to live eternal life with Him.

Thanks be to God. Jesus bought us the victory! Christ is risen indeed!

VICTORIOUS DEATH

I have come out of the tomb
to be forever with you.
The grave could not hold Me.
For My power is over all,
and death is conquered
by My sacrifice forevermore.
In dying I release others
from their deaths
and bring them into life
for all eternity!
Prepare your heart, dear one,
and believe the truth for yourself.
Do not question. Only believe,
and you will live with Me in victory!

©Constance Vanides
April 1, 2017

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