“Jesus told her, ‘I am the resurrection and the life. Anyone who believes in Me will live, even after dying.’” (John 11:25 NLT)
The resurrection of Jesus is God’s stamp of approval, not only on Jesus’ life on earth, but on the sacrifice of His life to pay sin’s penalty. Every person who would one day bow in recognition that what Jesus did on the cross He did for them, would be forgiven and be given eternal life in God’s only Son.
When Jesus uttered from the cross “It is finished!” Satan’s grip on man’s soul was released and every one who by faith in the completed work of Jesus on the cross would be freed from sin’s eternal death sentence. Our sin debt was paid in full by Christ on the cross. All we have to do is receive it as our own.
There is no better news than that! That’s the glorious declaration of the Good News of salvation in Christ alone, by faith alone. Michael Ramsay said: “The Gospel without the Resurrection is not merely a Gospel without its final chapter; it is not a gospel at all.” There’s no good in the news that Jesus died unless three days later He walks out of His tomb alive.
Death isn’t the final victory – resurrection from the dead is! How excited could you get about following Jesus on earth if there was no promise of an eternity with Him after death? How many people would get excited about a message of salvation that said: “Come to Jesus and live for Him in this life. You’re still going to die and go into nothingness, but it’ll make you feel good while you’re here.”
For me it would make more sense if I was told: “Eat all the chocolate cake, ice cream, pie, candy – everything that’s not good for you, because you’re going to die anyway and nothing we do here on earth is going to change that.”
Think of all Jesus’ resurrection now means to us. Mark Jones said: “There has never been a greater humiliation of a person than that of Jesus. No one has ever descended so low, because no one has ever come from so high.” If someone doesn’t realize who Jesus is, they can’t understand the value of His death and resurrection. That’s why Jesus is the subject!
To some salvation from sin has no appeal because they believe this earth is all there is. And who can blame them? That’s why the resurrection is so vital to understand and share. Because of who Jesus is – the King of kings and Lord of lords; the Author of creation; the sinless, blameless, Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world; our only hope of eternal life – without Him there is literally no hope!
Yes, I know people want proof. “How do you know that all that Jesus business is real? Prove to me that it’s true!” That can be frustrating, but to me it’s a no brainer. More than 500 people saw Jesus after His resurrection. The claims of the early Christians were easily verifiable. But think of the implication of 10 of the remaining 11 original disciples dying rather than denying Jesus rose from the dead.
Would you die for something you knew was a lie? The better question for me is: “Prove to me that it was a lie!” If I live my life loving my family and others in the name of Jesus, only to find it wasn’t true, I’ve lost nothing. But if Jesus is who He claimed to be and did what He claimed to do and I don’t embrace it while I still can, I’ve lost everything. It’s not worth the risk in my mind.
Besides, Jesus’ Father assures me every day that He’s real and I’ll be able to spend all eternity enjoying being with Him in the special place He’s preparing for me . . . and you, if you’re trusting in His resurrection!
Food for thought.
Blessings, Ed 😊
Walking With Jesus 