2 Samuel 23-24 | Luke 19:1-27

“And if Christ has not been raised, our preaching is useless and so is your faith.” 1 Corinthians 15:14

So what? Since it is undeniable that Jesus did resurrect from the dead, why does this matter to us? There are three main reasons why Jesus’s resurrection is important. Firstly, the resurrection gives proof of Jesus being who He claimed to be. Acts 17:31 tells us, “For He has set a day when He will judge the world with justice by the Man He has appointed. He has given proof of this to everyone by raising Him from the dead.” In other words, God has given proof of Jesus by raising Him from the dead. If Jesus was not raised, the whole of Christianity is discredited.

Unlike any other religious leader that said, “I’ll show you the way,” Jesus said, “I am the Way” (John 14:6). Others said, “I’ll teach you the truth,” Jesus said, “I am the Truth” (John 14:6). Others said, “I’ll show you how to find life,” Jesus said, “I am the Life” (John 14:6). Others said, “I’ll give you shepherds,” Jesus said, “I am the Good Shepherd” (John 10:11). Others said, “I’ll feed you the bread of life,” Jesus said, “I am the Bread of life” (John 6:35). Others said, I’ll switch on the light for you,” Jesus said, “I am the Light of the World” (John 8:12). In short, if Jesus was not alive, there is no gospel. 

Secondly, the resurrection of Jesus gives power. Paul writes, “I want to know Christ—yes, to know the power of His resurrection” (Philippians 3:10). True evidence of the resurrection of Jesus is the transformed lives of people. The disciples were characterized as weak and cowardly but after the resurrection, they were different. Not because they simply believed something they had not believed before, but they received something they had not received before—the risen life of Christ, imparted to them by the Holy Spirit. If we believe in Jesus, the power that raised Jesus from the dead is living inside of us. 

Thirdly, the resurrection of Jesus gives purpose. 1 Corinthians 15:20, 22 tells us, “Christ has indeed been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep.…For as in Adam all die, so in Christ all will be made alive.” The resurrection of Christ gives life purpose because it means our life does not end with bodily death, that we are not living this life in vain.

We have all three tenses present in Jesus’s resurrection: historical proof of resurrection (past tense), resurrection gives power (present tense) and resurrective gives purpose to life (future tense). The resurrection of Jesus did not only matter two thousand years ago, but today and forever.

PRAYER

Dear God, the resurrection of Jesus gives me assurance of the past, confidence in the present and a hope for the future. Praise You!