Resurrection Of Jesus Christ

While many doubt the resurrection of Jesus Christ, it is the core belief of the Christian faith. A tenet commonly held by more than 2 billion professing followers worldwide is that Jesus Christ, as the Son of God, was crucified more than 2,000 years ago and laid in a tomb covered with a huge stone, typical of burial plots of ancient times, only to arise three days later. Recorded primarily in the four gospels of the Bible: Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John; Christs victory over death, hell and the grave empowers every believer to hope for victory over sin to eventually inherit eternal life. What makes Jesus different from other spiritual leaders to whom other religions attribute deity is that He is the only one who died and rose again.



Each of the four gospels relay an account of the actual event of the resurrection of Jesus Christ. Matthew, Chapter 28 records Mary Magdalene and the other Mary arriving early at the tomb where the two women were met by the Angel of the Lord. The angel had apparently rolled away the tremendous stone from the mouth of the tomb, a feat which would have been humanly impossible. As the women gazed in awe at the empty sepulcher, the angel informed them that Jesus had risen. Both Marys ran to tell the disciples and as they ran, Jesus Christ appeared to them and declared that, "All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth." He instructed them further to go and teach all nations, baptizing them in His Name, and teaching them to observe the His doctrine. Essentially, the Lord established a mandate for evangelism which has been followed by devoted disciples for centuries, as men and women continue to carry out the Great Commission.



Mark's account reiterates that of Matthew's, adding the presence of a woman named Salome at the tomb. But, it is Luke's account, as told from the heart of a well educated physician, which gives further evidence of the resurrection. A man of great observation and an eye for detail, Luke not only referenced Mary Magdalene, Mary the Mother of James and other women; but he recalls Jesus' invitation to the fearful disciples to, "Behold my hands and my feet, that it is I myself: handle me, and see; for a spirit hath not flesh and bones as ye see me have." (Luke 24:39). From a medical doctor's viewpoint, to actually touch the physical anatomy of the Savior, whom everyone believed to be dead, is more than ample proof that Christ lived then and still lives now, fully the Son of man and fully the risen Son of God.



John, Chapter 20, gives further evidence of the resurrection. The beloved John knew Christ in an intimacy; and his account takes Luke's revelation one step further. Not only does the Lord Jesus allow the disciples to view the nail-scarred hands, but the Lord breathes upon the disciples so that they may receive the Holy Ghost. The breath of God breathed upon what was to become new creatures was overwhelming physical, yet intimate evidence of the resurrection. Eight days later, Christ returned from the ascension to the Father in a glorified body to reassure a doubting disciple. This time, a glorified Savior walked through physical doors shut tightly in fear of religious persecution and allowed the disciples to handle and touch the open wounds of the crucifixion, as evidence of the resurrection: "Then he saith to Thomas, Reach hither thy finger, and behold my hands; and reach hither thy hand, and thrust it into my side: and be not faithless, but believing. And Thomas answered and said unto him, My Lord and my God. Jesus saith unto him, Thomas because thou hast seen me, thou hast believed: blessed are they that have not seen, and yet have believed. And many other signs truly did Jesus in the presence of his disciples, which are not written in this book: But these are written, that ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing ye might have life through his name." (John 20:27-31).



Skeptics who persist in rejecting the truth of a risen Savior may find more evidence throughout the Bible. I Corinthians, Chapter 15 is devoted to the Apostle Paul's persuasive argument in favor of Jesus' triumph over death: "Now if Christ be preached that He rose from the dead, how say some among you that there is no resurrection of the dead? But if there be no resurrection of the dead, then is Christ not risen: And if Christ be not risen, then is our preaching vain: and your faith is also vain" (I Corinthians 15:12-14). In addition to this passage, verses 19 through 21 of the same chapter bring more clarification: "If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men most miserable. But now is Christ risen from the dead, and become the firstfruits of them that slept. For since by man came death, by man came also the resurrection of the dead."



Numerous other Biblical passages point to life after death for born again Christians. The four gospel accounts each declare that Jesus rose from the dead with all power in His hand, giving to all mankind the right to experience the forgiveness, grace and victory over sin. Those who choose to accept salvation by appropriating the benefits so freely given to us by God through the sacrificial act of the Lamb's blood shed at Calvary; are able to bear witness to the truth of the resurrection of Jesus Christ. As men and women hunger to know the Lord, feast on the written Word of God, and fellowship with other believers; they will grow stronger in faith and have little difficulty believing and accepting the overwhelming evidence of the resurrection of Jesus Christ. The regenerated heart and spirit of a born again man or woman is proof positive that the Lord and Savior yet lives.