This month brings us the celebration of the resurrection of Jesus, the very center of our Christian faith. The fact that Jesus rose from the dead is not only a historical supernatural event of the past, but it changes everything about how we live today.
1. The Resurrection proves Jesus is Who He said He was.
It is God’s declaration that Jesus is truly His Son. When Jesus rose from the dead, it validated everything He taught and claimed while He was on earth. Many religious leaders have come and gone, but only One walked out of His grave.
2. The Resurrection means our sins are truly forgiven.
Because Jesus died for our sins, the resurrection proves that Jesus’s sacrifice worked. Death could not defeat Jesus; therefore, sin is truly defeated. Forgiveness is not a hope, but rather a finished reality.
3. The Resurrection gives us power for living today.
As Christians, we not only celebrate life after death, but we understand that we have power to live right now. So often we may speak of “when we all get to heaven” and do not realize that Jesus did not leave us to struggle alone until we get there. His death has given us strength to overcome sin, sickness, fear, and discouragement right now. We need to be reminded that the same power that raised Jesus from the dead, lives inside us.
4. The Resurrection guarantees our future.
Our death is not the end. We have been given eternal life. Jesus’s resurrection is the first of many to come.
1 Corinthians 15:20, “Christ has indeed been raised from the dead, the first fruits of those who have fallen asleep.”
Because Jesus walked out His grave, our life has forever changed!
The following is an excerpt from a hymn titled, Because He Lives, written by Bill and Gloria Gaither. Gloria was pregnant and most concerned about bringing her child into a tumultuous world with adverse conditions.
“God sent His Son, they called Him Jesus; He came to love, heal, and forgive … Because He lives, I can face tomorrow. Because He lives, all fear is gone. Because I know He holds the future. Life is worth the living just because He lives” (Because He Lives, written by Bill and Gloria Gaither, 1971).
This is a beautiful reminder that throughout life, no matter the circumstances, the world events, and the pressures we face each day – because Jesus lives – we always have hope. Happy Easter!
—Rhonda L. Smart,
rhondalsmart@gmail.com
