THE RESURRECTION PROOF - WE CAN BE SURE

After his resurrection, Jesus showed Himself alive with many convincing proofs (Acts 1:3; 1 Corinthians 15:5-8). The disheartened disciples were transformed to bold witnesses ready to lay down their lives for the sake of Christ and His gospel. The resurrection of Jesus Christ vindicates His teachings, His unique claims of deity and sinlessness, His miracles, prophecies and promises of forgiveness and eternal life. Without the resurrection, Jesus becomes a false prophet, a misguided cult leader, a fraud and a man responsible for the deaths of millions who have given their lives for His lies.

The resurrection therefore is the keystone of the Christian faith. It is not a myth or a sentimental embellishment added by admirers trying to keep the memory alive. It was the central core of the apostolic message. There is no gospel without the resurrection. The gospel is the good news of what God has done and is doing in Christ Jesus. And what God has done and is doing is accomplished in the power of resurrection. God will only meet with human beings and work with them on the ground of resurrection.

Jesus was crucified as our Passover lamb (atoning sacrifice) on the 14th of Nisan (Matthew 26:2; Leviticus 23:5, 1Corinthians 5:7) buried as a symbolic removal of the leaven of sin on the 15th of Nisan (The Feast of Unleavened Bread - Leviticus 23:6) and rose from the dead on the third day, the day after the Sabbath (the Feast of First-fruits - Leviticus 23:11; 1Corinthians 15:20,23). The first-fruit is the representative and promise of that which is to come. Because Christ rose, we too, can have hope that we will be raised.

"But I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all men to myself." Jesus said this to show the kind of death he was going to die (John 12:32-33 NIV). Jesus was not merely predicting that His death would be by crucifixion. He was teaching that His death, burial and resurrection would be an all-inclusive act that would provide for the reconciliation of all men to God.

As Christ is lifted up on the Cross to die and lifted up in His resurrection from the grave, He is lifted up as our Representative. This is why Jesus had the titles of both 'Son of God' and 'Son of Man'. As the Son of God, He represents God to man. As the Son of Man, He represents man to God. His death as the Son of God would be described as a 'laying down' (John 10:15-18). His death as the Son of Man would be described as a 'lifting up'. Jesus said, "Just as Moses lifted up the snake in the desert, so the Son of Man must be lifted up, that everyone who believes in him may have eternal life." Moses lifted up the brass representative of the source of the people's affliction (Numbers 21:6-9). This account reflects Jesus dying as a representative, a substitutionary sacrifice, taking the penalty of death on our behalf. His death would be the means of our salvation.

In the light of the Feast of First-fruits, Jesus said this, "I tell you the truth, unless a kernel of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains only a single seed. But if it dies, it produces many seeds... But I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all men to myself." He said this to show the kind of death he was going to die. He was teaching that He would be raised as our representative in righteousness. Jesus was the only righteous man that ever lived. His death as the Son of Man would be the only possible means for that righteous life being reproduced in us. On the Cross, the righteous Son of God is identified with the guilty sinner. In the resurrection, the guilty sinner is identified with the righteous Son of God. "God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God." (2Corinthians 5:21 NIV). "He was delivered over to death for our sins and was raised to life for our justification." (Romans 4:25 NIV).

Through His obedience as the second man, Jesus restores to humanity all that was forfeited in the disobedience of the first man, Adam. Paradise lost is found. Through Christ, we become heirs of God. The immensity of our inheritance now fills our lives with joy.

"I want to know Christ and the power of his resurrection." (Philippians 3:10 NIV). Our goal can be to experience Christ as our strength today. God sees you in Christ. When He died, you died. When He was buried. You were buried. When He rose. You rose. Your sins have received their just punishment 'in Him'. You, the sinner, have also been crucified and buried with Him. You rise with Him as a new creation, born of His Spirit, with new spiritual faculties. The old man is crucified with Christ. Don't live a lie. Be renewed in the spirit of your mind. Don't wear Adamic hand-me-downs. Put on your Easter clothes. Be true to your new self. Wear your true colors. Get rid of that which doesn't match Christ's risen life dwelling within you.

Joining the Easter parade (to walk in newness of life),