Resurrection News We Can Use
Why do we believe in the resurrection of Jesus?
Because the Bible tells us so. We don't have to have scientific proof. It is enough for most of us that the Bible says Jesus of Nazareth came from the grave, because we believe the book to be the inerrant word of God. We live by faith not by scientific proof... Not by sight.
Because it is a historical fact. The resurrection was not something which occurred in secret. The city of Jerusalem knew about it. Later the whole Roman empire knew of His coming from the grave. Scripture records several historical meetings of Jesus with over five hundred different people. They saw Him, talked to Him, walked with Him on the road to Emmaus, touched His wounds, had breakfast with Him on the shores of the Sea of Galilee, they were taught by Him for forty days, some witnessed His ascension.
The resurrection tells us three things:
It proves Jesus is who He claims to be. Jesus made some outrageous claims while He was on earth. He said: I am God, I was here before the beginning, I am the Saviour of the world. I am the way, the truth and the life. There is no way to the Father, but by me. I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me will live, even though he dies.
It proves Jesus has the power He claims to have. All authority, all power, in heaven and on earth has been given to me... No one takes my life from me. I have the power to lay it down and I have the power to take it up again.
The Jewish and Roman coalition killed Him. They sealed His tomb and posted a military guard. But this did not keep Jesus in the grave. Scripture relates narratives of several people who have died and been raised from the dead. But not one of these were raised by their own power, and they all died again. You see, Jesus’ resurrection was different.
The Jews wanted a sign of His power, so Jesus said, I give you a sign, you destroy this temple, this body, and I’ll raise it again in three days. And He did. No one can raise himself from the dead unless He is God. Jesus was God and He had the omnipotent power of God. Good news we can use.
The resurrection proves He will do what He promises to do. Listen to some of His promises to us. I came that you might have life and have it more abundantly. I came to seek and save the lost. I will build my church and the gates of hell will not destroy it. In my Father’s house are many mansions, I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also. Ask what you will, in my name, and the father will grant it. Abide in me and I will abide in you. I will send you the comforter, the counselor, and he will lead you into all truth. The Son of man will be betrayed. They will mock Me and spit on Me, flog Me and kill Me. Three days later I will rise. If Jesus resurrected Himself as he promised, we can count on Him keeping all these other promises. More good news we can use.
What difference does the resurrection means to us today?
It means our past can be forgiven. One of the greatest blessings in Christianity is that we can start over anytime we want. Because Jesus lives, we can start over today... Right now! We all have done things we wish we hadn’t, say things we wish we had not said, think things we wish we had not thought. We’ve all reacted to situations in ways that we know now were inappropriate. We have regrets. We are all guilty of sin. Guilt burdens us, guilt drags us down, stresses us out and depresses.
What we need is a fresh start, a new beginning. The good news is that past sins can be forgiven in the blood of Christ. Don’t allow past mistakes to ruin your present or your future. For He has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the Son he loves, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins. God has made you alive with Christ. He forgave us all our sins, having canceled the written code that was against us, nailing it to the cross.
How long do we worry about a bill that has been paid? We don’t. Not one moment. Once God forgives, it is forgotten. It is as if it never happened. Even if there were no such place as heaven or hell, and there is. But even if there weren’t, Christianity would be worth just being able to forget past guilt, just to have a clear conscience. There is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. That’s good news we can use.
Because of the resurrection, our present problems can be managed. Christian maturity is when we figure out that we don’t have it all figured out. Maturity is understanding that we can’t control everything in life by our own power, but with God’s help we can.
Ever hear these comments: My life is out of control. I feel powerless to deal with this sin. We are powerless to deal with our teenager. I feel powerless to heal this relationship. I am powerless to deal with this guilt. I feel powerless to deal with this bad habit. I feel powerless to manage my time and my schedule. What we need is a power that is greater than ourselves.
Paul says it is available, pray that your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which He has called you, the riches of His glorious inheritance in the saints, and His incomparable great power for us who believe. That power is like the working of His mighty strength, which He exerted in Christ when He raised him from the dead and seated Him at His right hand in the heavenly realms... Now to Him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to His power that is at work within us... I can do everything through him who gives me strength. Paul is saying this same power that raised Jesus from the dead is now working in us as children of God: strengthening us, empowering us, enabling us to deal with life and become the individual God wants us to be. We in the church, don’t have to explain these verses, all we need do is: believe them, accept them, live them and rejoice in them. They are a part of the resurrection promise. They are a part of the good news we can use.
The resurrection secures our future. Because His tomb is empty, we to will be resurrected to live eternally. His resurrection secures us a place in heaven. God has two ways, two plans, for us to get to heaven. Plan A is to earn it by living a perfect life. That leaves me out. How about you? It’s already too late for us, we’ve already blown our chance. Right?
Since none of us qualify for plan A, God gave us plan B. Plan B is to establish a relationship with Jesus Christ. I am the way, I am the truth, I am the life... In His great mercy, He has given us the new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead. The resurrection of Jesus secures our future, if we will maintain an ongoing relationship with the resurrected Christ.
Make a decision today! Enjoy the blessings of His resurrection.
—Randall Caselman
