THE MEANING OF JESUS' RESURRECTION

What does Jesus’ resurrection mean to us today? Before we answer, it is well to remember that the heart of the gospel is Jesus Christ. The gospel does not consist of various religious commands and prohibitions, but rather is taken up with a Person – Jesus Himself. To really understand the gospel we must know Him.

After Jesus was born, He was carried by His parents to the temple in Jerusalem to be offered to God. There was an old man named Simeon in the temple. God had told him that he would not die before he had seen the Lord’s Christ, the promised Savior. When Jesus was brought in, Simon took the Child into his arms and said, “Lord, now let your servant depart in peace, according to Your word; for mine eyes have seen Your salvation, which You have prepared before the face of all people.” Luke 2:29-31. What he had seen was Jesus. He is God’s salvation.

Salvation then, is simply knowing Jesus. If we know Him we are saved. So then it should be clear that the gospel depends completely on Jesus. If Jesus is not risen, there is no gospel or good news. If He is still dead, the gospel is dead too. But if Jesus is alive, then Christianity is not just one of the world’s many religions, but God’s only way of salvation. The Bible declares this wonderful fact in this way, “But now is Christ risen from the dead.” 1 Corinthians 15:20. Therefore, “if you will confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus, and shall believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you shall be saved.” Romans 10:9.

The resurrection of Jesus proves the follow things:

Every word He spoke is true. He said, “I am the way, the truth and the life, no man comes unto the Father but by Me.” John 14:6. He arose to prove that this is eternally true. When Jesus was being tried by the Jewish leaders, He was asked by the high priest, “I adjure thee by the living God that you tell us whether you are the Christ, the Son of God.” His answer was, “Thou sayest!” Matthew 26:63 & 64. He claimed to be the Son of God, the promised Savior Who should come into the world. He arose to prove to all men everywhere that He is just that.

He can completely save all from sin. The Bible says, “Wherefore He is able to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by Him, seeing He ever lives to make intercession for them.” Hebrews 7:25.

Our resurrection is assured if we believe on Jesus. If you, dear reader, receive Him as your Savior, you too, will be raised by His mighty power that has defeated death.

There is judgment for all who refuse to trust Him as their Savior. “And the times of this ignorance God winked at, but now commands all men everywhere to repent. Because He has appointed a day, in which He will judge the world in righteousness by that Man whom He has ordained; whereof He has given assurance unto all men, in that He has raised Him from the dead.” Acts 17:30 & 31.

John E. Capron – Guest Blogger