Up From The Grave He Arose

By Jeremy D. Joy

The resurrection of Jesus from the dead is the cornerstone of Christianity corroborated by eyewitness testimony in addition to circumstantial evidence, but believing in the resurrection is more than an intellectual exercise; it has important implications in our personal lives. It changes everything! Have you experienced the power of the resurrection?

The physical death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus parallels our spiritual death, burial, and resurrection enabling us to accomplish what was impossible before and ensuring our own physical resurrection at the end of time (Ephesians 2:4-7). The result is that it dramatically improves the quality of our lives here.

It enables us to love the unlovable. The death of Jesus on the cross and indirectly His resurrection is proof positive of His love toward us in spite of our sins (Romans 5:6-8). The love that He manifested on the cross when He stretched out his hands to be nailed with six-inch spikes is indescribable. How can someone who is the object of love continue to hate his enemies as Jesus commanded? How can someone who has received mercy continue to withhold mercy from others as Jesus instructed? It certainly makes anger, bitterness, and resentment seem immature and petty! If we are hostages of sinful attitudes, we need to reconsider the resurrection of Jesus and its meaning or lack thereof in our lives.

It enables us to endure the unendurable. Many people have died for their religious convictions including radical Muslims in the world today, but the sacrifices made by the apostles and first century Christians were unique because they were for a belief that was substantiated by undeniable evidence, not speculation. Consequently, the apostles suffered severe persecution and horrible deaths (2 Corinthians 11:22-33). Likewise, we can endure hardships knowing that Jesus lives to intercede for us as a compassionate and sympathetic High Priest (Hebrews 7:25). Do you need to re-evaluate your attitude toward the ups and down of life?

It enables us to forgive the unforgivable. Someone said that holding grudges is the hardest on the grudge-holder. We fail to realize because of stubbornness and hardheadedness that we possess the tools of reconciliation with others. If we refuse forgiveness toward someone who has offended us, then we are imprisoned by the offender and the offender and we jeopardize our relationship with God (Matthew 5:21-26). Do you believe in the resurrection, really?

Back