The annual celebration of Resurrection Sunday has just passed, but I am still giving thanks for my “Easter people.” Have you heard this phrase? Its meaning goes back to a sermon by Augustine, who described Christians as those who depend daily on the power of the resurrected Christ. For Easter people, the resurrection of Jesus is more than a historical event; it’s a powerful reality that transforms each day, and these Christians seek to actively walk in that power.
Oh, you might say, that’s just being a Christian. Would you agree, however, that it’s challenging to keep the reality of Christ’s resurrection power in daily life? We humble humans get bogged down with the mundane responsibilities of work and home, as well as the common distractions we often turn to for comfort. The focal point in the lives of Easter people lies beyond the earthly horizon, on a heavenly throne. Alleluia! is ever on their lips.
The New Testament writers offered this hope to the early church. Paul prayed that the Ephesians would know the hope and power available to believers, writing “This is the same mighty power that raised Christ from the dead and seated him in the place of honor at God’s right hand in the heavenly realms” (Ephesians 1:20). The apostle Peter wrote about the “living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead” (1 Peter 1:3) that helps us to press on even in trials. The early Christians were, indeed, a different people because of the power and hope of the resurrection.
Some of the Easter people whose lives of faith encourage mine are being shaped – as Jesus was – by suffering and a dependence on divine power rather than their own strength. One friend serves patients amidst severe staff shortages and difficult administrative changes. Another friend is joy-filled because she’s found a church home even as she addresses a challenging relationship with an adult child. A third friend actively rests in peace that passes all understanding while navigating a painful marital separation. The integrity, perseverance, and patience of these women testify to their faith in God’s power and His provision for their time of waiting. They are fueled by the resurrection.
I also think of two friends who are actively engaged with the Holy Spirit for discipling and evangelizing. Independently, they are involved with mentoring, international missions, and caretaking, and together the three of us facilitate a weekly Bible class and activities for a small group of women and their children. These two women encourage with their faithful presence and words; they witness to Jesus’ power to heal, save, and teach. As I consider all of the women mentioned, I am encouraged to witness more boldly to those who don’t know Christ, to be faithful in prayer, and to be more watchful for the Holy Spirit at work. It’s a privilege to walk alongside them.
Who are your Easter people, whose lives of faith encourage your own? Are you praying with those who minister alongside you in your local church – encouraging one another with the victory of the resurrected Christ in view as you see the day approaching? Are you singing Alleluia! no matter the day?
