The resurrection event, “forced” the disciples to “make sense of it”; to find out where it fit in God’s great plan; and so on.
The cross event dealt with the past….once for all, a sacrifice was offered for all sins (Hebrews 7:27).
The resurrection event dealt with the future…forever became accessible.
The cross brought us peace with God and peace of mind.
The empty tomb brought us hope for the future.
Reading 1Peter we don’t find a definition of the resurrection, but an attempt, guided by the Holy Spirit to “make sense” of it. Peter wrote, ”Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! According to his great mercy, he has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you…” (Peter 1:3, 4).
God has given us a new birth…being born again is a gift of God.
Normally we are born into this world…spiritually, through the resurrection of Jesus, we are born again into: a living hope; an eternal inheritance; a divine relationship.
Any relationship is built upon some necessary characteristics/elements: Here are some of them (the “must have”): a sense of affinity; a level of knowledge; some assurance of continuity.
Peter gives us a hint about the “divine” relationship that every believer has been blessed with. He wrote, ”Though you have not seen him, you love him. Though you do not now see him, you believe in him and rejoice with joy that is inexpressible and filled with glory…” (1 Peter 1:8).
Q. How can you love somebody without seeing that person?
Where does that kind of love, love for Jesus (love for His church: brothers and sisters) come from?
Paul writes that, ”…God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us” (Romans 5:5).
Thus, God invites us into a “divine” relationship based on love, mutual knowledge and everlasting continuity. That is quite a reason for “joy unspeakable and full of glory”, don’t you think?