Resurrection and life

AS WE continue our Easter/Lent series about who Jesus is and what we believe, we cannot overlook His resurrection and what that means for us who accept Him as Saviour and Lord. In the human experience, death is the fundamental problem because even with all the exercise, medicine, AI and technological breakthroughs, vitamins and supplements, everyone still dies. The mortality rate is still 100 per cent.

Although naturalists/materialists believe that we’re physical creatures only and when the body dies we cease to exist, there’s an instinct that we have that tells us that there’s more. “He (God) has planted eternity in the human heart.” Ecclesiastes 3:11 (NLT). That’s why for some persons, there’s a great fear of death. They know that they’re not ready for it and the devil uses this truth to keep people in bondage and fear. For the Christian, however, we don’t need to have this fear. Jesus conquered death, and this sets Christianity apart from all others. “…Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, 4 that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures…” 1 Corinthians 15:3–4 (NIV).

During Easter, we celebrate the fact that Jesus rose from the grave and became the firstborn among the dead. The victorious, conquering, undefeated King of kings now holds the keys to death and Hades. It’s the cornerstone of our faith. Jesus appeared to John and said “ ‘Do not be afraid. I am the First and the Last. 18 I am the Living One; I was dead, and now look, I am alive for ever and ever and I hold the keys of death and Hades.” Revelations 1:17b-18 (NIV). Jesus exited the Alcatraz of hell holding its keys in His hand, so that the people who use to live in bondage to Satan but choose Him as Saviour can be free, and death is no longer a credible treat. “Since the children have flesh and blood, he too shared in their humanity so that by his death he might break the power of him who holds the power of death – that is, the devil 15 and free those who all their lives were held in slavery by their fear of death.” Hebrews 2:14-15 (NIV). Satan’s defeat was absolute. Christ’s victory is complete, eternal, and irrevocable. Jesus defeated sin, death, and Satan.

The Apostles Creed states, “I believe in the resurrection of the body and life everlasting.” This is almost a lost truth in modern times. We are so focused on the here and now that it has crowded out the truth of the resurrection and eternity. We seem to be primarily interested to know how Jesus can make our lives better here, which is important, but eternity is also and possibly even more important. When we transition into eternity, Jesus will give us a resurrected body like His. The Word tells us that Jesus “…by the power that enables Him to subject all things to Himself, will transform our lowly bodies to be like His glorious body.” Philippians 3:21 (NIV). Death isn’t the final word when we come to faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. The final word is life and our transition/resurrection into eternity.

This message of hope is not wishful thinking, but a firm truth of an expected future as Jesus’ resurrection is a historical fact, and many saw and spoke to Him after His resurrection. As Believers, when we believe this truth it generates a different approach to our lives and our faith. Jesus rose and so will those of us who accept Him and believe.