The Father and the Resurrection of Christ
The resurrection of Jesus Christ is the cornerstone of Christian faith and the radiant culmination of God’s redemptive plan for humanity. Often, we reflect on Christ’s triumph over death, but the Scriptures also lead us to see the intimate and active role of God the Father in the resurrection. From eternity past to the resurrection morning and beyond, the Father was working in perfect unity with the Son through the Holy Spirit to accomplish the salvation of the world. 1. The Father's Eternal Purpose Before the foundation of the world, the Father chose and appointed His Son to be the sacrificial Lamb. Christ's death and resurrection were not reactions to human failure but the unfolding of a divine plan. “He indeed was foreordained before the foundation of the world, but was manifest in these last times for you” (1 Peter 1:20) The resurrection was the crowning act of a plan ordained in eternity—a divine response of love and justice to redeem humanity. 2. The Suffering ...