Imagine someone whose only exposure to Easter is popping into high street shops during March. If they drew a pie chart of the festival’s significances, it would likely be one quarter bunnies, one quarter chicks, and a whole load of chocolate eggs!
But you probably know the real reason for this season. It’s the time for remembering Jesus’ death and resurrection. This isn’t marginal to Christian belief; Christ dying and rising is central. That’s shown clearly in this passage from the Bible, written by Paul:
What I received I passed on to you as of first importance; that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures, and that he appeared to Peter, and then to the Twelve. After that, he appeared to more than five hundred of the brothers and sisters at the same time, most of whom are still living, though some have fallen asleep. Then he appeared to James, then to all the apostles, and last of all he appeared to me also (1 Cor. 15:3-8).
Writing to Christians in Southern Greece, about twenty years after Christ’s life and death, Paul makes a huge claim: after dying on the cross, Christ lived again. Here’s another huge claim later in the letter: if Jesus didn’t rise from death, Christianity crumbles faster than a chocolate egg dropped from the top of Yr Wyddfa.
Maybe you’re not opposed to the claim of Jesus’ resurrection, but you’re not convinced either. Let’s ask and answer two questions I hope will help you.
Did Jesus’ resurrection really happen?
If not, according to Paul, you might as well rip up this magazine. If he did rise, this would make a huge difference. Let’s look at the sentences written by Paul, and think where they point.
The witnesses
Paul says, ‘I’m not the only one he appeared to. Jesus appeared to different people, on different occasions, for about forty days after returning to life.’
Maybe you want to say: ‘I could claim a thousand people saw a dragon in Swansea this afternoon. That doesn’t make it true.’
Absolutely. If I wanted children to believe something untrue, maybe I’d say, ‘Hundreds saw it.’ Adults want more evidence than that. They’ll want to say, ‘Let me talk to those people.’
That’s what Paul offers here. When he states that many of those witnesses are still living, he’s saying, ‘Talk to them! See if what they’re saying adds up.’
Claiming a man rose from death is huge, but these people say they saw, spoke, and ate with him.
It would be nuts to claim there was a dragon in Swansea this afternoon. It would be nuts to claim, without evidence, that a man had risen from death, but Paul claims to have witnessed it, and points to others who claim they saw Jesus alive.
There’s something stranger. If these witnesses were raking in cash for the claim, we understand why they’d lie, but they weren’t. Instead, in the years following Jesus’ resurrection, many of his earliest followers were imprisoned and killed, simply for claiming that he is alive. Yet they kept sharing this message. Why? They knew they were speaking the truth. They were convinced by the evidence.
Are you open to evidence? What kind of evidence would convince you that a real man rose from death?
Does Jesus’ resurrection really matter?
After all, it took place 2,000 years ago; what’s its relevance today? Here are two reasons it matters for us.
Peace with God
Paul tells us, ‘Christ died for our sins.’
If we see sin as ‘oopsies’, maybe scoffing too many mini eggs, or being ‘sorry not sorry’, we won’t understand the need for Jesus’ death. It’ll seem weird, extreme, maybe even vengeful.
Yet if we recognise sin for what it is, something that tears families apart, fractures communities, and ruins nations, when we understand it as foolish rebellion that brings the right anger of the God who is eternally love and delights to do good to all he has made, then we begin to see how awful sin is and why it must be dealt with so seriously. The cross Christ died on wasn’t a piece of beautiful jewellery. The cross as a way of death was utterly shameful.
Then we begin to realise the extent of the Father’s love; he sent Jesus to die for us. We begin to recognise Jesus’ love; willingly coming, suffering in place of sinners, taking the punishment we rightly deserve.
Then we’ll be thankful that Jesus rose again because that means the price for sin has been paid and accepted. It means that for everyone who trusts him, sin is dealt with. There is peace with God. Jesus didn’t die and rise again so we could have two bank holidays and a week’s supply of chocolate. It was so that all who trust in him would be free from sin’s punishment, and have eternal, everlasting joy with the God who made you and loves you.
Peace in the face of suffering and death
Death is frightening. It’s this huge, monstrous, open mouth. A black hole that everyone finally disappears into, and nobody really knows the other side of.
How can anyone not be scared of death? Paul says at the end of the chapter: ‘Death has been swallowed up in victory. “Where, O death, is your victory? Where, O death, is your sting?”’ (1 Cor. 15:55).
This strong and overpowering enemy has been disarmed by Jesus. Christ overcame sin, which gave death its sting, its strength, its horror. People who are joined to Christ don’t need to be terrified of death or suffering. They know what lies beyond, forever life with Jesus who loves them!
That’s what gave early Christians confidence and peace. They could say to the authorities, ‘Even if you put us in prison, we’re free because of Jesus! Even if you kill us, we have life forever, because of Jesus!’
Today, for those who are bereaved or for those who are in almost constant suffering, God’s Holy Spirit strengthens his people and makes them aware of the resurrection life of Christ and their resurrection life through Christ. He enables Christ’s people who are suffering and facing death to know that even the great enemy, death, does nothing but take me to Jesus.
Does it matter that Jesus rose from the dead?
It matters cosmically because Jesus, the risen One, is King over the universe.
It matters personally because you need to decide whether to continue living against the King, or come to him, and be brought into his kingdom and family.
It matters eternally because his new life is the signpost and way to eternal life for you and me.
It matters right now because Christ’s resurrection means you can live with purpose amidst seeming randomness. With joy while suffering. With sure hope amidst hopelessness.
Is there something inside you, saying, ‘Yes, I need this Jesus! I want this Jesus!’
Will you come to him this Easter?
