“I am the one who raises the dead and gives them life again. Anyone who believes in me, even though he dies like anyone else, shall live again. He is given eternal life for believing in me and shall never perish” (John 11:25-26 NIV)
The resurrection of Jesus is the cornerstone of Christianity. It validates what Jesus taught, proves his own trustworthiness, and solidifies the promise of our future resurrection.
Without the resurrection, believers would have no hope of salvation. Jesus’ resurrection also confirms that His eschatological shalom will right all wrongs and renew the world.
It Changed Everything
The resurrection is the heart of the gospel. It turns the cross from a tragedy into a triumph, and it brings the Holy Spirit power to change hearts and lives for the glory of God.
Without the resurrection, Jesus would be a dead martyr to be pitied, despite His lofty ideals and divine authority. But because He rose from the grave, we now see Him as our exalted Savior who redeemed us with His blood, who is reigning at the Father’s right hand, and who will one day return to fix this broken world.
The resurrection proves that the sacrificial death of Jesus was the fulfillment of Old Testament prophecies and that He truly is the Son of God (Matthew 26:63-64). It also vindicates Him for calling Himself the “living bread” and drinking the cup of salvation at the Lord’s Supper, both of which can only be enjoyed by those who believe in His resurrection (1 Corinthians 15:3-5). The resurrection gives Christians a living hope that never dies.
It Changed Your Relationship With God
One of the most important things that the resurrection of Jesus does is it reopens our relationship with God. Jesus Himself warned us, “I tell you the truth, unless a man is raised from the dead, he cannot see the kingdom of God” (John 3:3).
That is why the resurrection is so vitally important to Christianity. The fact that it happened proves that the Bible is true and that God loves us so much that He sent His only son to die for our sins and rise from death.
It also proves that Jesus is truly God, for if He had sinned, death would have held him in its grip. The resurrected Jesus was the same person who had taught the disciples and died on the cross. He is our only hope. That is why it’s so vital to celebrate and live the message of the risen Christ each week, rather than just during Easter.
It Changed Your Relationship With Others
The resurrection of Jesus is the pivotal point in the story of redemption. Without it, one can only pity Jesus as a dead martyr with lofty ideals that were misunderstood. With it, we stand in awe of the exalted Messiah who gave His life as a ransom for many and who now reigns at God’s right hand.
The fact that Christ’s death and resurrection are central to our faith gives us hope even in the most difficult and challenging times. Seeing what God did in raising Jesus from the grave empowers believers to speak with boldness about the truth that we can be forgiven of our sin and have eternal life through His power.
Pastor Steve Mathewson from CrossLife Evangelical Free Church in Libertyville, Illinois and adjunct professor in preaching at Trinity Evangelical Divinity School has written a new book entitled “Risen: 50 Reasons the Resurrection Changed Everything” (Baker Books). He joined me on the phone to discuss some of the key reasons why the resurrection is so important to our faith.
It Changed Your Life
Ultimately, the resurrection gives meaning to our lives. We know that the work we do for God is not in vain because Jesus rose from the grave! Jesus’ resurrection proves that He is who He says He is. He is the Son of God, who died for your sins and rose from the grave to give you eternal life!
His resurrection also proves that He has power over death. This is a powerful truth, because it means that He who created life has the power to restore it after death! It also means that He who defeated Satan and death will eventually do the same for us.
His resurrection also shows that the Holy Spirit is alive and active today. It means that He is working in the lives of believers, comforting them, strengthening them, and guiding them. He also helps them to live lives that honor God. The resurrection is a powerful part of the Gospel that changes fear into faith, despair into hope, and guilt condemnation into freedom.
