- Genesis 1:1-2:4a and Psalm 136:1-9, 23-26
- Genesis 7:1-5, 11-18; 8:6-18; 9:8-13 and Psalm 46
- Genesis 22:1-18 and Psalm 16
- Exodus 14:10-31; 15:20-21 and Exodus 15:1b-13, 17-18
- Isaiah 55:1-11 and Isaiah 12:2-6
- Baruch 3:9-15, 3:32-4:4 or Proverbs 8:1-8, 19-21; 9:4b-6 and Psalm 19
- Ezekiel 36:24-28 and Psalm 42, 43
- Ezekiel 37:1-14 and Psalm 143
- Zephaniah 3:14-20 and Psalm 98
New Testament Reading and Psalm
Gospel
Or have you forgotten that when we were joined with Christ Jesus in baptism, we joined him in his death? For we died and were buried with Christ by baptism. And just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glorious power of the Father, now we also may live new lives.
Since we have been united with him in his death, we will also be raised to life as he was. We know that our old sinful selves were crucified with Christ so that sin might lose its power in our lives. We are no longer slaves to sin. For when we died with Christ we were set free from the power of sin. And since we died with Christ, we know we will also live with him. We are sure of this because Christ was raised from the dead, and he will never die again. Death no longer has any power over him.When he died, he died once to break the power of sin. But now that he lives, he lives for the glory of God. So you also should consider yourselves to be dead to the power of sin and alive to God through Christ Jesus.
Romans 6:3-11 New Living Translation (NLT)
The early church had a tradition of meeting late Saturday night into early Sunday morning. It is called the Easter Vigil. At sundown on Saturday evening, the first mentions that Jesus has risen are mentioned.
I’m sharing the same scripture that Pam will be preaching from tomorrow. This is a great scripture about baptism, but it also speaks to Jesus’ resurrection. Paul says, since we are united with Jesus in His death – or buried with him – we will also be raised to life as he was.
This is so important to remember. We are crucified with Christ – the old way of sin no longer has sway over our lives – or at least it shouldn’t. We are reminded that if we are crucified with Christ that we are no longer slaves to sin. Because of Christ’s atoning work on the cross, we are free from the power of sin.
Because Christ was raised from the dead, death no longer has any power in the life of the believer. When Christ died, he died to break the power of sin, but he also lives and he lives for the glory of God.
What does that mean for us? Paul tells us that we should be considered dead to the power of sin and alive to God! We have this power because Christ died for us and was raised to life!
