The resurrection of Jesus Christ is the most significant event in all human history. It gives us the only hope of salvation in the universe. Peter points this out in Acts 4:12 when he says, “Nor is there salvation in any other, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.” What name is he referring to? Jesus Christ of Nazareth (v. 10) Jesus also said of Himself, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me” (John 14:6). This is a bold statement and one that is backed up by the scriptural and historical veracity of the resurrection.
We are told in 1 Corinthians 15:1-6 that Jesus died according to Scripture and was buried as a point of historical confirmation. The resurrection is also according to Scripture, and that He appeared to many is once more a historical confirmation and reality stated by Paul.1 The multitude of witnesses of the resurrection are something we cannot miss. The death, burial, resurrection, and declaration of Jesus’ resurrection by witnesses are all worthy conversations central to the Christian faith. They are something we should look at together in future discussions. But if the resurrection is false, we will all be in big trouble.
Paul will go on to say to the church of Corinth, “And if Christ is not risen, your faith is futile; you are still in your sins! Then also those who have fallen asleep in Christ have perished. If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men the most pitiable” (1 Corinthians 15:16-19). Think about that. If Jesus is not raised, we should be pitied as fools for sure, for we have no hope of salvation. Yet, He is risen. He is risen indeed!
Now, for you and I, as disciples, the resurrection is of eternal importance for everyone we know. For as we have seen, there is no salvation outside of a relationship with Jesus. The writer of Hebrews points out to us, “And as it is appointed for men to die once, but after this the judgment, so Christ was offered once to bear the sins of many” (Hebrews 9:27–28). Jesus said, “For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many” (Mark 10:45). Yes, Jesus freely gave His life for us on the Cross of Calvary, but He did not stay in the grave. He rose just as He promised, revealing His power and authority to keep all His promises.
We need to all remember, Jesus said of Himself, “For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many” (Mark 10:45). Yes, Jesus freely gave His life for us on the Cross of Calvary as He cried out with a loud voice, “Father, ‘into Your hands I commit My spirit.’ Having said this, He breathed His last” (Luke 23:46).
So, technically, no one killed Jesus; He willingly gave up His life. Nicodemus and Joseph of Arimathea took Him off the Cross and buried Him in a borrowed tomb that belonged to Joseph. He only needed it for the weekend. He did not stay in the grave. This is our hope of salvation! He is risen. He is risen indeed. Because Jesus arose just as He promised, He revealed His eternal power and His divinity, making known the reality of His power to keep all His promises.
Paul tells the Church in Corinth, “…all the promises of God in Him are Yes, and in Him Amen, to the glory of God through us” (2 Corinthians 1:20). Jesus said, “‘Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up.’ Then the Jews said, ‘It has taken forty-six years to build this temple, and will You raise it up in three days?’ But He was speaking of the temple of His body” (John 2:19-21). His resurrection was proof of this statement for sure.
In John 11:25-27, Jesus tells Martha, “‘I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in Me, though he may die, he shall live. And whoever lives and believes in Me shall never die. Do you believe this?’ She said to Him, ‘Yes, Lord, I believe that You are the Christ, the Son of God, who is to come into the world.’” This is what we all need to do. Believe in Jesus for eternal life because He is risen.
Remember, Jesus also said to Nicodemus, “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved” (John 3:16-17).
Now, Jesus has been the redemption plan from before the foundations of the world. This message of the good news of redemption, transformation, and life after death, often called “the Gospel,” is what we are commanded to share with others. We must tell others about Jesus the risen and only Savior. Everywhere we go, every day, make room for the work of the Gospel (Matthew 28:18-20).
Did you know that Jesus has been the redemption plan for all of creation from before the foundations of the world were laid by God in Genesis? John 3:16 clarifies that God loved the whole world so much that He sent His Son to die to redeem everyone who would believe. In this context, Jesus is speaking of all who are on the earth and made in God’s image. This means that God has had your whole life in His mind from eternity past to eternity future. God sent His Son and He loved you so much that He chose to willingly endure the brutality of the cross as one of us (Hebrews 12:1-2).
This message of the good news of redemption, transformation, and life after death with God, often called “the Gospel,” is what we are commanded to share with others. That’s right, brothers and sisters, being a faithful witness of the resurrection is a command of Jesus (Matthew 28:18-20). Hope is not hope if it is not shared with others. That is why we have been given the power of the Holy Spirit to be witnesses (Acts 1:8). We are empowered, by God Himself, to tell others about our hope in Jesus as the only Savior everywhere we go, every day (Acts 4:12). You and I need to slow down in our chaotic and distracted world to make room for the work of the Gospel commission. People need to hear the message that lives in us. So, how important is this message? Life and death. Therefore, let’s choose to be about the business of our King.
All of this, Paul writes, was in place before the world was formed. That is how important it is. He says, “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ, just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before Him in love” (Ephesians 1:3–4). You and I were cared for and loved by God before creation itself. You came first and forever in God’s plan.
Something more to consider here. God will show us the depth of His great love in the ages after Revelation 22:21 and the fulfilled kingdom of God. Paul goes on to say, “But God, who is rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, even when we were dead in trespasses, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved), and raised us up together, and made us sit together in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, that in the ages to come He might show the exceeding riches of His grace in His kindness toward us in Christ Jesus (Ephesians 2:4–7). This makes we wonder if I have been in the thoughts of God forever. Makes my mind hurt when I think about it. What about you?
1Steve Mathewson, DM701 Effecting Gospel-Centered Transformation, (Western Seminary 2025)