Resurrection of Jesus Christ

The Resurrection of Jesus Christ is undoubtedly the most important event to the Christian community.  Without it, very little else makes any sense or has any lasting meaning.  Has it ever occurred to you that Christianity is based on this “one event” – the Resurrection of Jesus Christ? It is the hinge on which the door of Christianity swings wide open for anyone to enter or closes tightly forever shutting everyone out.

If someone can prove that the resurrection of Christ never occurred, they are qualified to declare Christianity as false and futile.  Incidentally, many brilliant minds have set out to legalistically prove (cf. the process of a lawyer preparing a brief) that the resurrection was a sham.  However, because of the overwhelming evidences, many of them ended up entering the opened tomb, bowed their knees in worship and declared Jesus Christ as their Lord and Saviour. Some of these have become the most prominent defenders and proponents of the resurrection as being incontrovertibly true.

Without the Resurrection of Christ, it is difficult for us to explain a number of things including:

q       The existence of the Church

q       The New Testament itself

q       The change in the Early Disciples  – particularly the Apostles

q       The ones who fled on the night of His betrayal, denial and arrest, were within a few weeks ready to die for their faith.

q       Why the Church meet on Sundays – the First Day of the Week.

q       Etc., etc.

The Resurrection of Christ is one of the most attested events of history.  It is the distinctive of Christianity. It is the basis of our faith and hope.  In fact, the Apostle Paul said that if Jesus was not resurrected, Christians are be pitied more that all people (1Cor 15:19).  However, since there is a resurrection, we can rejoice vehemently, live victoriously and even die courageously (Read the most comprehensive, convincing and comforting passage in the New Testament on the Resurrection 1Corinthians 15:12-58).

A possible Chronological Sequence of the First Events of Easter Sunday:

1. The women went to the tomb to anoint the body of Jesus (Mark 16:1-3; Matt 28:1)
2. They found the stone rolled away and saw the angel (Matt 28:2)
3. Mary Magdalene left the group and went to tell Peter and John (Jn 20:2-4)
4. The women entered the empty tomb and ran for fear and in joy to tell the Disciples (Matt 28:8)
5. The soldiers went and reported to the Jewish authorities  (Matt 28:11-15)
6. Peter and John came running to the empty tomb (Jn 20:4-10)
7. Mary Magdalene returned to the tomb and stood weeping, when Jesus revealed Himself to her (Jn 20:11-18)
8. Jesus appeared to the women as they were on their way to tell the Disciples  (Matt 28:9-10)
9. Jesus appeared to Peter (Lu 24:34; cf. 1Cor 15:5)
10. Jesus appeared to the two travelers on the Road to Emmaus (Lu 24:13-32)
11.  The two travelers returned to Jerusalem to report to the Apostles (Lu 24:36-43; cf. Jn 20:19-25; Mark 16:14)
12. Jesus appeared to the Disciples in the Upper Room while they were still receiving the report and speaking to the travelers - Thomas was absent (Lu 24: 36-39 cf. Jn 20:19-25)

Has it ever occurred to you that the stone being rolled away was not to let Jesus out, but to let others in?

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 Last modified: Tuesday February 03, 2009 .