Dear Friends,
I’ve always been interested in finding out where words come from. Technically, it’s called etymology.
I don’t know if you’ve ever stopped to think about this, but words come from somewhere. When something new comes along, someone has to decide what to call that new thing.
For example, there was a time when there were no automobiles. So when the automobile was invented, someone had to name it.
Here’s where that word came from.
Auto means self. Mobile means moving. So an automobile is a self moving or self propelled vehicle. A vehicle that doesn’t need an animal pulling it.
In England, the automobile was (and in some cases, still is) called the motor car. The word car comes from the word cart. A motor car is a cart with a moter.
In France, the automobile was, at first, called a locomobile. Loco means place, like locale or location. So a locomobile was something that moved you from one place to another place.
See how interesting that is?
There are words that get invented and don’t stick. A decade ago, the hybrid word chillax was popular. Not so much today.
Given what we’re about to celebrate this week, I think we ought to take a minute to consider the word resurrection.
That English word comes to us from the French. They got it from the Romans. The Latin was re-surgere. Surgere means to stand up. Re mean again. So it’s simple. Resurrection means to stand up again.
Pretty basic, right? But here’s where it gets interesting.
The Greek word that is translated resurrection in our Bibles is anastasis. Anameans up. For example, the word anatomy comes from two Latin words – anaand tome. Tome means to cut. Ana means up. Anatomy means to cut up.
So back to anastasis. Again, ana means up. The second half of that word is the Greek word stasis. And here’s what the Strong’s Dictionary of Greek words tells us about stasis.
4714. στάσις stásis; gen. stáseōs, fem. noun from hístēmi (2476), to stand. An insurrection, sedition or uprising (Mark 15:7; Luke 23:19, 25; Acts 19:40; 24:5). A contention, dissension, dispute (Acts 15:2; 23:7, 10; Sept.: Prov. 17:14).
Now why did I take you through all that? To get to this one point. I wanted you to see that there is a connection in the original language between what we will celebrate on Sunday – the resurrection of Jesus – and the Greek word for a rebel or a revolutionary.
The resurrection of Jesus was also the insurrection of Jesus. His rising up from the dead was an up-rising.
It was not a political uprising. But it was the most significant, most profound rebellion in all of human history.
And this insurrection was successful. When Jesus was raised from the dead, ruling powers and authorities were overthrown. The Revolutionary who led the rebellion was installed as the reigning monarch. The Bible says that when He was raised from the dead, Jesus “disarmed the rulers and authorities and put them to open shame, by triumphing over them” (Colossians 2:15).
There were ruling powers and authorities that were defeated as a result of this glorious uprising.
We called this coming Sunday “Resurrection Sunday.” We could just as easily call it Insurrection Sunday. Because when Jesus was raised from the dead, He declared victory – over sin and death and hell.
If your allegiance is with Jesus, then the victory He won is your victory too. The rulers and authorities He has defeated no longer have any power or authority over you. All because of your loyalty to the Captain of the insurrection.
Sunday, we mark the anastasis. The uprising. The cosmic insurrection that has changed everything.
And we gather to reaffirm our allegiance to the One who led the rebellion, triumphing over the last great enemy of humanity.
What a glorious uprising.
EASTER WEEKEND AT REDEEMEROf course, this is the weekend when we remember and rejoice.
It all begins Friday night at 7:00 when we gather for our Good Friday worship service to reconsider the darkest day in human history – the execution of Jesus.
On Saturday, it’s the annual Resurrection Rally for kids, where they will gather plastic eggs and learn the real story of Easter.
Of course, on Sunday, we’ll have our Easter Sunday worship service.
Let’s talk about this Sunday for a minute.
First, can you aim to get to church at 9:45? We expect we’ll have a lot of visitors, and it would be great to have you there early. Let’s make new friends feel welcome.
When you come, consider parking in the side lot and filling it up first.
And (I’ve saved the hardest for last) maybe sit in the front row? Or in the middle of your row? We expect to fill every seat, and we’d like to avoid saying “can we ask you to scoot in together?” Let’s just plan now that there won’t be an empty chair next to you this Sunday.
NXTGEN
Young adults – this Saturday night is the next NxtGen get together at the Gurneys.
REDEEMER MEN'S CLASSIC
Golfers – there are still a few open slots for the Redeemer Men’s Classic at Topgolf.
Click here (https://redeemerlr.us2.list-manage.com/track/click?u=df57aea0670b59c32464d5bab&id=014616c637&e=60ed8f7d93) for more information or to sign up!
BAPTISM SUNDAY
Have you been baptized since you became a follower of Jesus?
In the Bible, baptism is the first step of obedience a new Christian is called to take.
If you have questions about baptism, click here (https://redeemerlr.us2.list-manage.com/track/click?u=df57aea0670b59c32464d5bab&id=8928c92f10&e=60ed8f7d93) and find out more about this ordinance of the church.
(https://redeemerlr.us2.list-manage.com/track/click?u=df57aea0670b59c32464d5bab&id=da97b1b9dd&e=60ed8f7d93)
On Sunday, April 12, we’ll be ending our morning worship service with baptisms. If you’ve trusted Christ but have never followed His command to be baptized, let’s get together and talk about you joining others in baptism. Hit reply to this email or talk with any of the elders to let us know if you’re interested.
And, we’ll be celebrating the baptisms with an after-church potluck. So be thinking now about what item you want to bring.
LEADERSHIP IN THE LOCAL CHURCH
Our final Leadership in the Local Church class for men will take place on Thursday night, April 23.
WOMEN'S STAY-TREATLadies – there is a big weekend ahead for you in April. It’s the annual Women’s Stay-treat. All the fun of a retreat, but you get to sleep in your own bed!
Here’s the link (https://redeemerlr.us2.list-manage.com/track/click?u=df57aea0670b59c32464d5bab&id=74fb399c98&e=60ed8f7d93) for more information or to register.
ROOTS HANG OUT WITH THE PERKINS
Roots Students – the next Hangout with the Perkins happens in just a few weeks!
READY FOR SUNDAY
Here is the preview (https://redeemerlr.us2.list-manage.com/track/click?u=df57aea0670b59c32464d5bab&id=494675f0e1&e=60ed8f7d93) of the songs we’ll be singing together this weekend.
No Gospel Way Catechism Class This week.
On March 15, 44 BC, the Roman Emperor Julius Caesar was stabbed 23 times by a group of Roman senators during a Senate meeting at the Curia of Pompey in Rome. That event was a turning point in the history of the Roman Empire. But it carries very little significance for how any of us live our lives today.
Meanwhile, the resurrection of Jesus which happened some 2000 years ago, continues to impact the lives of men and women every day. On Sunday, we’ll celebrate the resurrection of Jesus by seeing why that event in human history still matters.
See you in church!
Soli Deo Gloria!
Pastor Bob
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