How firm is your conviction as to the resurrection? Do you really believe that Jesus rose from the dead? If Jesus rose, do you really believe that for those who are in Christ they too will rise? These are important questions for us to consider on this day that commemorates the resurrection of Jesus on that first Easter Sunday morning.
Many in the world today simply laugh at us when we talk of being resurrected. “How can this be?” they ask! “Surely this is an absurdity! How can a dead and decayed body come back to life? It is not possible! An educated and thinking person could never support such a spurious possibility! Science certainly does not support such a claim!” These statements and arguments have been used ever since the day Jesus rose from the dead. One of the first churches, the Corinthian church, struggled with accepting the concept of resurrection.
Paul wrote an amazing response to the claims that resurrection is an impossibility and only a ‘tall tale’. He used science, biology and astronomy in a defence of Jesus’ resurrection, as well as, providing sufficient evidence that one day we too will be resurrected. He is very forthright in his response to the accusations that resurrection is only fanciful thinking. His explanation and submission found in 1 Corinthians 15 is quite exceptional and one worthy of our study. We will do this later in the year. But for today, we will focus our attention on the matter of whether resurrection is ‘fact or fiction’. We will consider the great truth of how we too will be resurrected on that great day when time will be no more.
As we remember and celebrate Jesus’ resurrection 2016 years on, it is my hope that you will be one 100% clear on the fact that you too will be resurrected if you are walking with Jesus and place your hope in Him. I love the scene when Martha is talking with Jesus following the death of her brother Lazarus. Jesus says to Martha, “I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me will live, even though he dies; and whoever lives and believes in me will never die”. And then He asks her the question, “Martha, do you believe this?” How would you answer today if someone asked you at work or school or university or in your neighborhood or even in your family, ‘Do you believe that one day you will be resurrected’? I hope and pray that you will answer … yes I do!
Jesus died on the cross – fact! Jesus rose again three days after His death – fact! You too will rise when the trumpet of the Lord will sound – fact! It is all because of Jesus! Happy Easter!