GUEST ARTICLE
The Significance
of Christ’s Resurrection
Each
spring, millions of people around the world acknowledge,
in some fashion or another, that Jesus Christ was raised
from the dead some twenty centuries ago. Modern society
calls it “Easter.”
The
origin of this term is uncertain, though it is commonly
thought to derive from Eastre, the name of a Teutonic spring
goddess. The term “Easter,” in the King James Version of
the Bible (Acts 12:4), is a mistranslation. The Greek word
is pascha, correctly rendered “Passover” in
later translations. In fact, though pascha is found twenty-nine times in the Greek New Testament,
it is only rendered “Easter” once, even in the KJV.
Christians
are not authorized to celebrate Easter as a special annual
event acknowledging the resurrection of Christ. Faithful
children of God reflect upon the Savior’s resurrection every
Sunday (the resurrection day – cf. John 20:1ff) as
they gather to worship God in the regular assembly of the
church (cf. Acts 20:7; 1 Corinthians 16:2).
We
ought to be glad, however, that multitudes—usually caught
up in pursuits wholly materialistic—will take at least
some time for reflection upon the event of the Savior’s
resurrection. It is entirely appropriate that Christians
take advantage of this circumstance; we should be both
willing and able to explain to our friends—at least those
who have some reverence for Christianity—the significance
of the Lord’s resurrection.
The
resurrection of Jesus from the dead is the foundation of
the Christian system (cf. 1 Corinthians 15:14ff). If there
was no resurrection, Christianity is a hoax, and we are
wasting our time. But the truth is, the event of Jesus’ resurrection
is incontrovertible. Professor Thomas Arnold of Rugby,
a world-renowned historian, once said that Christ’s resurrection
from the dead is the “best-attested fact in human history” (1939,
2569). This being the case, just what is the significance
of Jesus’ resurrection? Think about these matters.
First,
the resurrection is one of the major evidences that Jesus
Christ is the Son of God. Paul affirmed that Christ
is “declared to be the Son of God with power . . . by the
resurrection from the dead” (Romans 1:4).
Second,
Jesus’ resurrection represents an assurance that we can
have forgiveness from our sins. Paul contended: “[I]f
Christ hath not been raised, our faith is vain; ye are
yet in your sins” (1 Corinthians 15:17). The reverse of
the apostle’s affirmation would be this: if Jesus was raised,
sins will be forgiven when we obey the gospel (Acts 2:38;
22:16).
Third,
the resurrection tells the world that the kingdom of
God is ruled by a living sovereign. The founder of
Islam is dead and his bones lie dormant in the earth. But
the founder of Christianity—sixty years after his death—appeared
to John on the island of Patmos and said: “I am the first
and the last, and the Living one; and I was dead, and behold,
I am alive for evermore” (Revelation 1:17-18).
Fourth,
Jesus’ resurrection proves that physical death is not
the termination of human existence. God, who is the
giver of life (1 Timothy 6:13), has the power to reanimate
the human body. Christ’s triumph over the grave is Heaven’s
pledge to us that we too shall be raised. This is why Jesus
is referred to as the “firstfruits of them that are asleep” (1
Corinthians 15:20,23).
Fifth,
the Lord’s resurrection previewed the ultimate victory
of Christianity over all its enemies. In the book of
Revelation, Jesus is depicted as a lamb that had been slain,
but was standing again (5:6). This same Lord was “the lion
of the tribe of Judah” that had overcome his foes (5:5).
Christians too will overcome as a result of the Lamb’s
sacrifice and victory over death (cf. Revelation 12:11).
The
resurrection of the Son of God should be a constant reminder
to us of these wonderful biblical truths. We honor our
Master’s victory over death—not once a year, but every
week!
--Wayne
Jackson
Sources/Footnotes
- Arnold,
Thomas. 1939. The International Standard Encyclopedia.
Vol. 4. James Orr, ed. Grand Rapids, MI: Eerdmans.
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