Has The Resurrection Lost Its Relevance?

"Religious people can hear about the resurrection so often, they are in danger of losing the significance of it, where it is no longer meaningful. Instead, it becomes something they just routinely sing about, hear the preacher sermonize on and take communion in remembrance of."

What if Jesus’ resurrection never happened?  What if He died on the cross, but Sunday never came and He remained dead?  

I have been going to church and hearing about Jesus’ resurrection since I was three.  Religious people like me can hear about it so often, that we are in danger of losing the significance of it, where it is no longer meaningful.  Instead, it can become something we just routinely sing about, hear the preacher sermonize on and take communion in remembrance of.  

One of Jesus’ chosen messengers was Paul, whom wrote to a group of Christians saying, “. . . if Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile and you are still in your sins.”  (1 Corinthians 15:17) Paul wrote this to remind a group of established believers, how the resurrection is the foundation of their faith.  Without it, their faith would be futile, meaning all their religious beliefs and practices surrounding Christ would be absolutely meaningless on a practical level.  All their church attendance and ministry activity would just be for the feeling of it or the general good it does, but outside of that, it would be of zero spiritual value.  These believers had lost the impact of this cardinal Christian doctrine.                

What difference does the resurrection make?  Let me ask it this way.  What if Jesus had not been raised from the dead?  Then all biblical preaching and teaching surrounding Christ would be a lie.  The Bible itself would be a lie.  The very existence of the Lord God would be a lie.  Jesus’ teachings and miracles would be a lie.  His claim of being deity would be a lie.  Your conversion to Christ would not be real, but simply a spiritual experience.  Your daily walk with Jesus would be a delusion.  Your sins would have never been forgiven, meaning you would still be guilty and unacceptable before God, remaining under the penalty of eternal death.  None of your friends or loved ones who died and had trusted in Christ, would be in heaven.  If Jesus had not been raised from the dead, then all humanity is condemned to one hopeless outcome.  Everlasting destruction.          

But praise God none of this is so.  According to the Scriptures, “. . . in fact Christ has been raised from the dead.”  (1 Cor. 15:20) Additionally, Peter, one of Jesus’ closest followers testified before a crowd of people, “This Jesus God raised up, and of that we all are witnesses” (Acts 2:32).  The stone before Jesus’ tomb was rolled away so His followers could see inside.  There was no body.  It was empty.  Christ was not there.  He had risen!  He.  Is.  Alive!

All around us are people who lie, deceive and manipulate.  Professions and people we once trusted, we are skeptical of.  Distrust abounds everywhere.  Greatest of all, for many it has become a lifestyle without remorse.  This arouses God’s anger.  He detests liars and condemns them to the eternal fire meant for the Devil and His demons.  

But God is not a liar, nor is His Son.  Every letter of Jesus’ Words is true and the fact He has risen from the dead proves it.  Furthermore, His teachings are true.  His miracles are true.  Indeed, He is God in human form.  He truly did provide for the forgiveness of our sins.  Our guilt and shame can be removed.  He has paid the penalty we rightly deserved.  Our faith is not in vain.   Eternal life can be ours.  The hope of heaven is real.  And one day, Jesus is coming back again!  

In a world where you do not know who or what to believe anymore, there is One whom you can trust.  There is One whom has never lied, nor ever will.  His name is Jesus, and He has risen from the dead that you might believe in Him with all your heart.    

A prayer for you - "Lord God, I pray you will open our spiritual eyes to the realities of the resurrection.  Show us what this means.  Teach us.  Give us fresh understanding today.  And if there is someone who has never turned from their sins, bring them to yield fully to you and be washed clean by the power of your Holy Spirit.  In Jesus name.  Amen."  (Photo by Fr. Daniel Ciucci on Unsplash)