Jesus lived so that we might have life. He died while we were dead in our sins so that we might have life through Him. He resurrected so that we might also be raised. He intercedes for us that we might be found blameless before God. And He will return to bring all things to fruition that we might spend eternity in His glorious presence.
These statements are not speculative or allegoric, but rather they are the very premise of the Christian faith. They profess a reality that is underpinned by the historicity of Jesus Christ and the authenticity of the Holy Bible. It is the perfect redemption plan.
The Bible is God’s word, and as such it establishes His moral standard. Jesus, who is God, exemplified that moral standard through His human life and obedience, even to death (Philippians 2:6-11). Despite humanity’s inability to live up to God’s moral standard, Christ fulfilled the requirements for us. The very existence of Jesus Christ exemplifies God’s love for us.
Christ Is Our Perfect Sacrifice
Romans 3:25 informs us that Christ was sacrificed as atonement for our sins and in Colossians 2:6-15 we read that Jesus paid our debt and forgave all our sins. Hebrews 10:1-18 teaches that Jesus is the only true sacrifice for sin and John wrote that Christ is the atoning sacrifice for our sins (1 John 2:2). The cross was the bridge used by Christ to reconcile man to God. Furthermore, In Romans 6:5 we find the declaration, “If we have been united with Him like this in His death, we will certainly also be united with Him in His resurrection.”
The reality of the resurrection of Jesus Christ is the cornerstone of the Christian faith and has impacted humanity more that any other event in human history. Without the resurrection, Christianity doesn’t have any substance.
Paul wrote in 1 Corinthians 15:14-19, “And if Christ has not been raised, our preaching is useless and so is your faith. More than that, we are then found to be false witnesses about God, for we have testified about God that He raised Christ from the dead. But He did not raise Him if in fact the dead are not raised. For if the dead are not raised, then Christ has not been raised either. And if Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile; you are still in your sins. Then those who have fallen asleep in Christ are lost. If only for this life we have hope in Christ, we are of all people most to be pitied.”
This testimony, coming from someone that was once an enemy of Christ, carries significant credibility considering the profound impact his encounter with the risen Jesus had upon his life. As an up and coming Pharisee, Paul had wealth, power and influence to gain by remaining loyal to Judaism. Yet he forsook it all to advocate for Christ, which resulted in a life of hardship, persecution, imprisonment and ultimately execution because of his faith.
Skeptics have proposed that Paul simply had a vision of the risen Jesus on the road to Damascus. However, a vision does not strike someone with blindness nor can a vision be overheard by others present at the time (Acts 9:1-19). Paul is responsible for igniting Christianity throughout the Roman empire and planting churches that grew into the single greatest religious movement in history.
Christ Is Our Perfect Savior
The empty tomb sets the Christian faith apart from every other religion known to man. By conquering death, Christ indemnified the charges of sin and provides the pardon required to free us from slavery to sin. Who the Son sets free, is free indeed (John 8:36).
Jesus appeared to many people apart from the disciples after he rose from the grave, including over five hundred eyewitnesses at one time. This was not due to hallucinations or dreams since five hundred people do not hallucinate the same hallucination or dream the same dream at the same time.
The Pharisees were acutely aware that Jesus’ resurrection would mean He truly was who He claimed to be, and so they petitioned Pilate to have His tomb guarded by Roman soldiers (Matthew 27:62 – Matthew 28:15). After the resurrection, they made a concerted effort to quiet the news and even made up a story that the disciples had stolen the body.
John 20:1-18 records the events that took place on the morning of the first day of the week, after the crucifixion of Jesus. Mary Magdalene was the first one to see that the stone had been rolled away, and she quickly went to tell the disciples. Later, after the disciples left, as Mary stood outside the tomb weeping, she encountered Jesus. He instructed her to tell the disciples, “I am returning to My Father and your Father, to My God and your God.”
Christ Is Our Perfect Hope
Jesus promised that He would prepare a place for believers in His Father’s house (John 14:2-3). This is the blessed hope for all believers. In 2 Timothy 4:8, Paul wrote, “Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day – and not only to me, but also to all who have longed for His appearing.”
Furthermore, Philippians 2:9-11 reveals that Jesus has been given the name above all names, and 1 Timothy 2:5 declares, “For there is one God and one mediator between God and men, the man Jesus Christ,”. The writer of Hebrews calls Him, our High Priest (Hebrews 4:14-16) and Romans 8:34 reveals that, Christ Jesus, who died – more than that, who was raised to life – is at the right hand of God and is also interceding for us.”
These words of Paul resonate throughout the ages. “But Christ has indeed been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep. For since death came through a man, the resurrection of the dead comes also through a man. For as in Adam all die, so in Christ all will be made alive. But each in his own turn: Christ, the firstfruits; then, when He comes, those who belong to Him.” (1 Corinthians 15:20-23).
This Easter, as we reflect upon the crucifixion and the agony of Jesus, let us be inspired to unwavering faith by the perfection of God’s redemptive plan and the hope we all have because of His perfection. I pray that we are both humbled and lifted up as we contemplate our future because of the cross. “For now we know in part and we prophesy in part, but when completeness comes, what is in part disappears.” (1 Corinthians 13:9-10).
We do not put our faith in idols or human accomplishments, but rather, our Savior is alive and active. He wants us to come home. He desires His bride. And when the full number of guests has come into the wedding hall for the bridal supper of the Lamb, we will all be home. Amen.
