Christianity Without Jesus' Resurrection?

Last Sunday was Easter. For Christians, it’s a day to commemorate Jesus’ resurrection, which occurred around 30 AD. What is the big deal? There are many instances of people brought back to life, aren’t there? There are three unique things about Jesus’ resurrection.

The first is that Jesus predicted His own resurrection: “From that time [when Peter confessed, ‘You are the Christ, the Son of the living God’] Jesus began to show his disciples that he must go to Jerusalem and suffer many things from the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and on the third day be raised” (Matthew 16:21).  

The second is that Jesus spoke of having the authority to raise Himself from the dead: “No one takes it from me, but I lay it down of my own accord. I have authority to lay it down, and I have authority to take it up again” (John 10:18).

The third is that Jesus spoke of His resurrection, not resuscitation. Resuscitation is to be brought back to life, only to die again. When a person is resurrected, he will never die again. No wonder people find it hard to believe! We hear of people being resuscitated often. But resurrection violates the laws of nature! So, it can’t happen--or can it?

Ian Hutchinson, professor of nuclear science, at MIT said:

“Today’s widespread materialist view that events contrary to the laws of science just can’t happen is a metaphysical doctrine, not a scientific fact. What’s more, the doctrine that the laws of nature are ‘inviolable’ is not necessary for science to function. Science offers natural explanations of natural events. It has no power or need to assert that only natural events happen.”

The Bible recognizes that the message of Jesus' resurrection is a scandal to the Jews and folly to the world (1 Corinthians 1:23)! Even Jesus' disciples had a hard time believing it--until He appeared to them after His resurrection! Paul of Tarsus was once a fierce persecutor of Christians. But he suddenly became the most ardent preacher of the Christian message. Why? Because he met the resurrected Jesus on his way to persecute Christians in Damascus! For this change, he was persecuted and died a martyr's death.

Jesus' resurrection is certainly not an ordinary phenomenon. It was not even a rare event. It was meant to be a unique, unprecedented, one-of-a-kind event! How could it be anything less if it was meant to break the universal reign of death (against the laws of nature) and bring in the gift of eternal life?!

There are plenty of great religious and moral teachings out there. But what about the problem of death? Can anyone claim to have solved it if he is defeated by it? If we die without fear like Socrates, can we say we defeated death? And can we say we have addressed any of life's problems if we have not solved the problem of death?

Jesus' resurrection is not just a metaphor for turning over a new leaf in life. Paul claimed that the truth of Christianity depends on this historical event: “If Christ has not been raised, then our preaching is in vain and your faith is in vain” (1 Corinthians 15:14). This is so because the wages of sin is death. Unless the full payment was made, Jesus could not be raised from the dead. His resurrection shows, then, that it was fully paid for. God promises in His Word that those who believe in Jesus can have their sins forgiven, fully and completely.

Because God made us body and soul, and because both our body and soul were corrupted by sin, both must be redeemed from sin and death. That is why the Son of God came in the flesh, suffered, died for our sins, and physically rose again from the dead. We invite you to place your trust in Jesus Christ, who is the Resurrection and the Life, and receive God's free gift of forgiveness and eternal life, both in your body and soul! Happy Resurrection Day!