He Arose!
04.13.22
Now if Christ is preached that He has been raised from the dead, how do some among you say that there is no resurrection of the dead? (13) But if there is no resurrection of the dead, then Christ is not risen. (14) And if Christ is not risen, then our preaching is empty and your faith is also empty. (15) Yes, and we are found false witnesses of God, because we have testified of God that He raised up Christ, whom He did not raise up—if in fact the dead do not rise. (16) For if the dead do not rise, then Christ is not risen. (17) And if Christ is not risen, your faith is futile; you are still in your sins! (18) Then also those who have fallen asleep in Christ have erished. (19) If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men the most pitiable. (20) But now Christ is risen from the dead, and has become the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep. (21) For since by man came death, by Man also came the resurrection of the dead. (22) For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ all shall be made alive. (1 Corinthians 15:12-22)
Easter Sunday is coming. Isn’t it a special time? Our thoughts turn to bunnies, eggs, flowers, golf, and baseball. There is hope in the air. I am sure that many are anxious to get out into the fields and get the farm work going.
The word Easter is not a biblical word, but was borrowed from the feast of Ishtar. Hence, let us refer to it as Resurrection Sunday. Each Sunday is given for us to worship the risen Savior.
Let us consider the real reason for the celebration. Jesus Christ arose! There are many religions in this world, but only Christianity offers a risen Savior. Buddha is still in his grave. Marx and Lenin are in their tombs. Mohammad is a dead leader. The same can be said for every other person who has made some messianic claim.
Jesus’ resurrection is provable. There is an empty tomb. He was seen by more than five hundred witnesses. The soldiers who were guarding the tomb, and knew that He arose, were hushed up. The early believers were ready to face death for His sake. The changed lives of those who followed Christ give testimony to His resurrection. If it were a hoax, Christianity would have been disproved very early. But the message of the Gospel, based on the truth that He arose, was preached mightily and thousands of people were born again.
Jesus’ resurrection is vital. If He had not risen, we would have no hope, for there would be no forgiveness of sin and every human would face a lost eternity. But He arose! There is great hope. He is declared to be the Son of God with power by the resurrection of the dead. This is the guarantee of the resurrection of the believer. In Christ shall all be made alive. What He said about Himself is true: I am the way, the truth and the life: no man comes unto the Father but by me. The Resurrection is the proof that Jesus is God and that there is eternal life beyond the grave.
Jesus’ resurrection is literal. He did not merely swoon. Those who would minimize the Resurrection attempt to discredit the authority of the Word of God, the power of the Gospel and the person of Christ. Jesus cannot save us if He did not literally, physically rise and become the victor over sin, death, and hell.
He lives! We must proclaim this good news. Those who put their faith in Jesus will rise to newness of life to be with Him one day. Do you know the Lord Jesus as your personal Savior? Have you received the gift of eternal life, offered to you by the Risen Christ? Take His gift today!
He that has the Son has life, and he that has not the Son of God, has not life. (1 John 5:12)