Dr. Michael D. Halsey
Chapter 4
THE RESURRECTION
INTRODUCTION
The Bible brings a message of life and death. Camus once said, "Death is philosophy’s only problem." Freud wrote, "Every person owes nature his own death and [he] must be prepared to pay this debt. It is natural, undeniable, and unavoidable." Freud also wrote that we tend to push death aside. He pointed out that the human being can’t imagine his own death because when he tries to imagine it, he always sees himself as surviving as a spectator. Therefore, he wrote, "Nobody believes in his own death."
When someone dies, we act in a special way—we suspend criticism and we forgive the person any wrong as the Latin motto swings into action (demortuis nil nisi bene), "About the dead, nothing unless good." (Timely Thoughts on Death)
It’s interesting that at every wedding we attend, the pastor always says, "If any one knows any reason why these two should not be joined together in holy matrimony, let him speak now or forever hold his peace." One author has said that it would be a shock if such a statement were asked at a funeral service. What would the shock be like if the minister described the deceased and asked, "If anyone disagrees with the description I’ve given of the deceased or challenges what I’ve said about the destiny to which we’ve committed our trust….." What if someone raised his hand in disagreement!
The Bible brings a message of life and death. Christ predicted that He would die and rise from the dead. This was the most controversial of all His statements. He told both His followers and His enemies to expect it. His enemies put a guard at the tomb to prevent it and His followers didn’t take Him literally.
The New Testament doesn’t present a spiritual resurrection, which would have been easy to do. People do this all the time. No, the disciples preached a physical resurrection.
So much hinges on the Resurrection of Jesus Christ that it’s impossible to overstate the importance of this foundational doctrine of Christianity. To state it another way, if they find the body of Jesus in Jerusalem, then it’s all over. If such a discovery were made, there would be no "Christianity." Christianity falls apart without it. Just how important is the Resurrection?
If Jesus did not rise from the dead:
In 1 Corinthians 15:3-8, Paul points out that the gospel is based on the fact that Christ died and is alive.There is no gospel.
Jesus lied. He predicted His own death (which did not surprise Him), then He said that He would rise from the dead (Matthew 20:19) and in John 2, He predicts it as well, but not in so obvious a statement. The Resurrection authenticated Jesus.
Our faith is meaningless. Paul calls Christians a group most to be pitied if Jesus did not rise from the dead. If there’s no Resurrection, then we can add hopelessness to our being without meaning.
How do we know that Christ rose from the dead?
The Bible says that He did.
This explains why individuals, groups and large numbers of people saw Him alive after His death. (cf. I Corinthians 15)
This is why both the Romans and the followers of Jesus agreed that His tomb was empty.
This is why the day of Pentecost brought the Holy Spirit to indwell believers.
This explains why the day of worship suddenly changed from Saturday (the Sabbath) to Sunday because it was to commemorate the Resurrection.
The Resurrection introduced a new Person.
A new kind of body appeared in the universe. Jesus was raised in a body which would never die. Still recognizable by those who had known Him, yet retaining the scars from the Cross. In this body, Jesus could enter rooms without using doors, appearing and disappearing at will.
The Resurrection introduced a new prototype. (Colossians 1:8 and Revelation 1:5) The resurrection bodies of believers will be like Christ’s body. (1 Corinthians 15:35-41 and 1 John 3:2) To be like Jesus will be to be pure, without sin, and righteous.
The resurrection proved Jesus to be right. (Romans 1:4)
Why is Christ’s resurrection important?
If He didn’t rise form the dead, then He is a liar or was deceived. He said He would rise from the dead in Matt. 20:19.
If He didn’t rise from the dead, then His work on the Cross wasn’t good enough. Without the resurrection, there is no gospel. (1 Cor. 15:1-5) Without the resurrection, He cannot be the Son of God as the Bible claims. (Rom. 1:4)
Without the resurrection, there are no present ministries of Christ such as His high priestly work, advocate (1 John 1), and the head of the church.
If the resurrection didn’t occur then we Christians are to be objects of pity. (1 Cor. 15)
The most detailed revelation of the resurrected Christ is found in Revelation 1:12-16, which is how we’ll see Him one day.
What have been the effects of the resurrection?
The resurrection of Christ caused His followers enemies to admit His tomb was empty (Matt. 28:11-15). It caused the events of the day of Pentecost (Acts 2). It caused the coming of the Holy Spirit (Acts 1). It caused the birth of the church (Acts 2) and the revolutionary change of days of worship from Saturday (the Sabbath) to Sunday (Acts 20:7).
Conclusion
The resurrection is one of the most crucial doctrines of Christianity, so crucial, that if they discovered Christ’s body tomorrow, we would stop meeting. Without the resurrection, there is no Christianity.