RESURRECTION!

R is for redemption.

E is for eternal life.

S is for the Spirit of God.

U is for unity.

R is for restoration and reconciliation.

R is for righteousness.

E is for evidence.

Do you find it difficult to believe that Jesus rose from the dead?

If we look at this issue from a purely human perspective, it’s natural we might have doubts. After all, no one alive today has seen Jesus in the flesh. None of us have talked with Him, eaten with Him, or personally seen the scars on His hand, His side, and His feet. We must accept by faith that the eyewitness accounts we read in scripture are true.

Ultimately, God Himself must open our eyes and heart to believe what is true. Once that happens, however, we experience first-hand evidence that Jesus is alive, as the Holy Spirit comes to indwell us, giving life to our spirit, and affirming within our spirit that Jesus is indeed alive.

Romans 8:16-17 – The Spirit Himself testifies with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, heirs also, heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with Him so that we may also be glorified with Him.

Books have been written on the historical evidence for the resurrection of Jesus. Many things are accepted as historical facts that have far less “evidence” than the claims of those early followers of Jesus. And it’s not unusual for historical facts to be in dispute, even when they are clearly true. Consider the insanity of those who say the Holocaust never happened!

Ultimately, each one of us must decide for ourselves whether we will believe the evidence that Jesus really did die, really was buried, and really rose from the grave. What we choose to believe has no impact on whether it is true. Truth is reality, fact. Our choice to believe or not to believe doesn’t make Jesus credible but that choice will certainly impact our lives, both here, and for eternity.

If you struggle to believe, you’re not alone. The disciples who knew Jesus personally, who walked and talked with Him, and heard from His own lips that He would be put to death, but would rise again on the third day, also had trouble believing it when it happened.

Mark 16:9-13 – Now after He had risen early on the first day of the week, He first appeared to Mary Magdalene, from whom He had cast out seven demons. She went and reported to those who had been with Him, while they were mourning and weeping. When they heard that He was alive and had been seen by her, they refused to believe it. After that, He appeared in a different form to two of them while they were walking along on their way to the country. They went away and reported it to the others, but they did not believe them either.

Eventually, they all did believe. They saw Jesus appear in a room, without opening the door. They sat with Him on a beach and ate fish together that He had cooked over a fire. They put their hands on the scars on His body. They talked with Him, touched Him, and walked along the roads with Him. Every experience with the Risen Christ must have been convincing, for every single one of them turned their lives upside down to go into all the known world and preach the gospel, even to the point of death.

There is much evidence to support the resurrection, but for me, the resurrection is evidence itself of something that is so important to know and believe. It proved beyond a shadow of a doubt that Jesus is the Son of God, and is God. It validated all His claims that He was God and affirmed that every word He taught is truth.

When we accept the evidence of the resurrection, then we must accept Jesus for who He is and what He says. He can no longer be just a good teacher with some nice ideas on how to get along with one another. He is God, our Creator, our Lord, our Master, and our Savior.

Only a living Jesus could speak to my heart and transform my soul.

Only a living Jesus could hear and answer my prayers.

Only a living Jesus could convict me when I sin.

Only a living Jesus could make His words in scripture come alive to me.

Only a living Jesus could give me joy during suffering and trials.

The evidence of the resurrection is what God has done in our hearts and our lives. We are eyewitnesses to the power of the resurrection, and that’s enough for me.

John 20:29 – Jesus said to him, “Because you have seen Me, have you believed? Blessed are they who did not see, and yet believed.”

1 Peter 1:8-9 – And though you have not seen Him, you love Him, and though you do not see Him now, but believe in Him, you greatly rejoice with joy inexpressible and full of glory, obtaining as the outcome of your faith the salvation of your souls.