The Resurrection of Christ

The Resurrection of Christ

“When the Sabbath was over, Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James, and Salome bought spices so that they might go to anoint Jesus’ body. Very early on the first day of the week, just after sunrise, they were on their way to the tomb and they asked each other, “Who will roll the stone away from the entrance of the tomb?”  But when they looked up, they saw that the stone, which was very large, had been rolled away. As they entered the tomb, they saw a young man dressed in a white robe sitting on the right side, and they were alarmed. “Don’t be alarmed,” he said. “You are looking for Jesus the Nazarene, who was crucified. He has risen! He is not here. See the place where they laid him. But go, tell his disciples and Peter, ‘He is going ahead of you into Galilee. There you will see him, just as he told you.’”
Mark 16:1‭-‬7 NIV

This week, Christians all over the world celebrated the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ, the Messiah, Son of God, Suffering Servant, King of kings, and Lord of lords. The sin which had enslaved generations since the time of creation was eventually dealt with on the cross. Because of what Jesus did for us on the cross, paying the price for our sin that only he could pay, he is calling all of us to wake up from the spiritual death and find hope in him, who has defeated death once and for all.

Many Christians, when asked “What is the gospel?” will respond with “Jesus died for my sins.” In 1 Corinthians 15:1-4, Apostle Paul writes, “Now, brothers and sisters, I want to remind you of the gospel I preached to you… that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures.” Here Paul clearly states that the gospel consists of three core events: Jesus’ death for our sins, his burial, and his resurrection.”

Photo by Kelly Sikkema on Unsplash

Now the question is what did Jesus’ resurrection accomplish for us? Wouldn’t dying for our sins have been enough? 

1. The resurrection of Christ proved that Jesus Christ was who He claimed to be

Our Lord had clearly claimed to be the son of God.
“Paul, a servant of Christ Jesus, called to be an apostle and set apart for the gospel of God— the gospel he promised beforehand through his prophets in the Holy Scriptures regarding his Son, who as to his earthly life was a descendant of David, and who through the Spirit of holiness was appointed the Son of God in power by his resurrection from the dead: Jesus Christ our Lord.”
Romans 1:1‭-‬4 NIV

2. The resurrection was necessary to fulfil Biblical prophecy

The resurrection of Christ was a biblical necessity.
“because you will not abandon me to the realm of the dead, nor will you let your faithful one see decay.” 
Psalms 16:10 NIV

3. The resurrection was necessary for the payment of our sins

Through his death and shed blood provided the atonement for sins, however, if he had not resurrected, his death would not mean anything.
“And if Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile; you are still in your sins.”
1 Corinthians 15:17 NIV

4. The Resurrection offered us Salvation

If the mediator is dead then future reconciliation is impossible. 
“For there is one God and one mediator between God and mankind, the man Christ Jesus.”
1 Timothy 2:5 NIV

The promise for Christians is that just as death was not the end for Jesus, neither is it the end for us.

Charles Spurgeon once said,
The very happiest persons I have ever met with have been departing believers, the only people for whom I have felt any envy have been dying members of this very church, whose hands I have grasped in their passing away, almost without exception, I have seen in the holy delight and triumph and the expectations to this, and the exceptions to this exceeding joy, I’ve seen deep peace exhibited in a calm and deliberate readiness to enter into the presence of their God.

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