Tradition suggests that in the earliest days of the church, especially in those days when persecution was the rule rather than the exception, when believers met, they commonly greeted one another in this way. One would announce: “Christ is risen!” The other would respond: “He is risen, indeed!”
Over time, this salutation became known as the Paschal greeting. Today, as has been true for nearly two millennia, certain groups of Christians customarily welcome one another on Easter with this greeting. “Christ is risen! He is risen, indeed!”
Whether or not this greeting was a security measure, a kind of code that established ground for safe and confident relations, it clearly identifies the non-negotiable essential core of our faith and our fellowship. More than our family histories, more than our nationalities, more than our political persuasions, more than our racial identities, more than our religious/denominational preferences, this truth defines us and the nature of our bonds. “Christ is risen! He is risen, indeed!”
The resurrection of Jesus Christ is the linchpin, which, like the metal pin used to prevent a wheel from sliding off the axle, holds our spinning lives in proper association to the axle of truth. If the resurrection of Jesus Christ is true, then, to borrow from Richard John Neuhaus, “it is, quite simply, the truth about everything” (Death on a Friday Afternoon: Meditations on the Last Words of Jesus, 2000, p xi). If it is true, the resurrection of Jesus Christ reveals the truth about God, about man, about sin and death, about grace and mercy and love, about life and eternity, about … everything.
On the other hand, if the resurrection of Jesus Christ is not true, then we are of all people the most pitiful. So observed Paul in 1 Corinthians 15:14-19.
… if Christ has not been raised, then our preaching is without foundation, and so is your faith. 15 In addition, we are found to be false witnesses about God … 17 and if Christ has not been raised, your faith is worthless; you are still in your sins. 18 Therefore those who have fallen asleep in Christ have perished. 19 If we have placed our hope in Christ for this life only, we should be pitied more than anyone.
The enemy appreciates the vital, strategic nature of the Christ’s resurrection. For this reason, he works feverishly to stir up opposition to the facts. He must discredit the truth. So, from the very first Resurrection Day, arguments have been hurled against the evidence for the resurrection in vain attempts to discredit “the truth about everything.” The Jewish priests and elders bribed the guards to say Jesus’ disciples stole His body while they themselves slept (Matthew 28:11-15).
Why is the resurrection of Jesus Christ so important? Space and time allows for only two quick answers here:
The resurrection of Jesus Christ affirms the identity of our Savior. He is Who He says He is. As CS Lewis famously asserted, Jesus is either liar, lunatic, or Lord. We cannot “come with any patronizing nonsense about His being a great human teacher. He has not left that open to us. He did not intend to” (Mere Christianity, 1960, pp 55-56).
He is Lord of all! He is the one and only Son of God and God the Son. He is the Lamb of God. He is the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End. He is the Author and Finisher of our faith. He is the Way, the Truth, and the Life.
The resurrection of Jesus Christ declares the capabilities of our Sovereign. He can do what He says He can do. He is indeed the resurrection and the life (John 11 :25). He conquered sin and death; He will surely empower us to do the same. He is indeed able to keep that which is committed unto Him against that final day (2 Timothy 1:12). He can transform us and fit us for Father’s pleasure and presence.
How can we know the resurrection of Jesus Christ is true? Space and time allows only just one suggestion here:
Did you know the Bible says we owe the people of the world an apology? Peter exhorts us “always to be ready to give a defense to anyone who asks for a reason for the hope that is in you” (1 Peter 3:15). The word translated “defense” is apologian, from which we get “apology.” It does not mean “I am sorry.” It means “defense” or “answer.”
Beloved, people need to hear a reasoned defense of the resurrection. I commend resources such as Lee Strobel’s The Case for Christ to anyone who will honestly and with integrity invest in reasoned research, committed more to truth than to prove their agenda or to substantiate their preconceived notions. In his quest, he borrowed from his award-winning journalistic experience, much of it in courts, and identified 14 lines of evidence against which to investigate the claims of Christianity about Jesus Christ. His third section of the book focuses on “Researching the Resurrection.” Therein, he addresses four key questions often raised by skeptics themselves:
1. The Medical Evidence: Was Jesus’ Death a Sham and His Resurrection a Hoax? No. Evidence proves Jesus died.
2. The Evidence of the Missing Body: Was Jesus’ Body Really Absent from His Tomb? Evidence proves the empty tomb.
3. The Evidences of Appearances: Was Jesus Seen after His Death on the Cross? Yes! Evidence supports many witnesses!
4. The Circumstantial Evidence: Are There Any Supporting Facts that Point to the Resurrection? Too many to list here!
Pastor Rob
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