The Resurrection of Jesus
“…Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures:” (1 Corinthians 15:3-4)
Easter is the celebration of Jesus’ resurrection from the dead. Yet some people in Paul’s day did not believe in the resurrection of the dead. Paul asked, “Now if Christ be preached that he rose from the dead, how say some among you that there is no resurrection of the dead?” (1 Corinthians 15:12)
He further stated, “For if the dead rise not, then is not Christ raised: And if Christ be not raised, your faith is vain; ye are yet in your sins. Then they also which are fallen asleep in Christ are perished.” (1 Corinthians 15:16-18) The word “gospel “means”good news.” The gospel is the good news that Jesus died for our sins according to the scriptures, was buried, and rose again according to the scriptures. If Jesus did not rise from the dead, the gospel makes no sense and there is no good news.
Matthew 17:22-23 says, “…Jesus said unto them [His disciples], The Son of man shall be betrayed into the hands of men: And they shall kill him, and the third day he shall be raised again. And they [disciples] were exceeding sorry.” Why were they sorry? Shouldn’t they be glad He would rise again? Apparently they caught the part about Jesus being killed, but missed the part about Him rising again. Did you ever tell someone something and they miss parts of what you said? That may have happened here.
Yet His enemies caught it. After He was buried, they told Pilate, “Sir, we remember that that deceiver said, while he was yet alive, After three days I will rise again. Command therefore that the sepulchre be made sure until the third day, lest his disciples come by night, and steal him away, and say unto the people, He is risen from the dead: so the last error shall be worse than the first.” (Matthew 27:63-64)
Jesus’ disciples may not have understood His resurrection. His enemies didn’t believe in it. Yet if Jesus said He would die for sins and rise again, His resurrection would be proof that he told the truth. The fact that He rose from the dead proves He was God the Son, and His death really paid our sin-penalty.
Jesus appeared to His disciples. They “…were terrified and affrighted, and supposed that they had seen a spirit.” (Luke 24:37) Jesus said, “Behold my hands and my feet, that it is I myself: handle me, and see; for a spirit hath not flesh and bones, as ye see me have.” (Luke 24:39) He even ate! “And they gave him a piece of a broiled fish, and of an honeycomb. And he took it, and did eat before them.” (Luke 24:42-43)
Almost two thousand years after the fact, the gospel of Jesus Christ still saves souls and changes lives. Can we believe a story from such an old book? Of course we can! We can believe things that were written in old books about Alexander the Great and Cleopatra, and they both lived before Jesus.
Moreover, the Bible is not just an old book. It is God’s word, “…quick, and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword,” (Hebrews 4:12) It can touch man’s heart and conscience in ways nothing else can. It inspires and empowers people to life-changing faith in Jesus and pure, sober, selfless living.
Romans 10:13-14 says, “For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved. How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed?” You can’t call on a dead person and expect help. Yet you can call on a live person to be forgiven for your sins and saved, if that live person is Jesus.
To see how to receive Jesus as your personal Saviour and have forgiveness for your sins and eternal life, please go to www.clevelandbaptist.org, click “Helpful Links,” then “How Do I Go to Heaven?”
Brian Miller 3/24/2024