(THE MEANING OF CHRIST’S RESURRECTION)
THE FEAST OF CHRIST’S DEITY
1. Easter is a great day because it is the feast of the resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ, and His resurrection proves that Jesus Christ is no ordinary man. He is the Son of God!
Consider Romans 1:1-4, and especially verse 4:
1 Paul, a servant of Christ Jesus, called to be an apostle and set apart for the gospel of God— 2 the gospel he promised beforehand through his prophets in the Holy Scriptures 3 regarding his Son, who as to his earthly life was a descendant of David, 4 and who through the Spirit of holiness was appointed the Son of God in power by his resurrection from the dead: Jesus Christ our Lord. (Romans 1:1-4)
24 Now Thomas (also known as Didymus), one of the Twelve, was not with the disciples when Jesus came. 25 So the other disciples told him, “We have seen the Lord!” But he said to them, “Unless I see the nail marks in his hands and put my finger where the nails were, and put my hand into his side, I will not believe.” 26 A week later his disciples were in the house again, and Thomas was with them. Though the doors were locked, Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you!” 27 Then he said to Thomas, “Put your finger here; see my hands. Reach out your hand and put it into my side. Stop doubting and believe.” 28 Thomas said to him, “My Lord and my God!” 29 Then Jesus told him, “Because you have seen me, you have believed; blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.” (John 20:24-29)
There is a very striking symmetry in the way Christ comes into and departs from this earth. Reflecting on this, the well-known theologian John Stott said the following:
His birth was natural, but His conception was supernatural. His death was natural, but His resurrection was supernatural.
THE FEAST OF OUR JUSTIFICATION
2. Easter is a great day because it is the feast of the resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ, and His resurrection is the sign that God the Father accepted the sacrifice of the cross of Golgotha — the sacrifice that was offered for our sins. The resurrection of Jesus is the sign that His blood is sufficient for our justification.
20 Now may the God of peace, who through the blood of the eternal covenant brought back from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great Shepherd of the sheep, 21 equip you with everything good for doing his will, and may he work in us what is pleasing to him, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen. (Hebrews 13:20-21)
23 The words “it was credited to him” were written not for him alone, 24 but also for us, to whom God will credit righteousness — for us who believe in him who raised Jesus our Lord from the dead. 25 He was delivered over to death for our sins and was raised to life for our justification. (Romans 4:23-25)
Easter is a great day because it reminds us that we are justified from our sins through faith and are in a new, better, and eternal covenant with our Creator!
When people shop and pay for something, they receive a receipt. That receipt certifies that they have made the purchase. If a question arises, or something goes wrong, the receipt proves that payment for the goods was made and that they were paid for in full.
For us Christians, redeemed through the blood of Jesus Christ, the price for our salvation was paid in full on Good Friday, when Jesus was crucified on the cross. On Easter morning, we received the receipt for our redemption. The resurrection of Jesus Christ is our receipt.
The resurrection of Jesus Christ is God’s receipt for the payment of our sins, which was accomplished through the death of Christ.
THE FEAST OF VICTORY OVER DEATH
3. Easter is a great day because it is the feast of the resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ, and His resurrection is an astounding victory over death.
10 because you will not abandon me to the realm of the dead, nor will you let your faithful one see decay. 11 You make known to me the path of life; you will fill me with joy in your presence, with eternal pleasures at your right hand. (Psalm 16:10-11)
22 “Fellow Israelites, listen to this: Jesus of Nazareth was a man accredited by God to you by miracles, wonders and signs, which God did among you through him, as you yourselves know. 23 This man was handed over to you by God’s deliberate plan and foreknowledge; and you, with the help of wicked men, put him to death by nailing him to the cross. 24 But God raised him from the dead, freeing him from the agony of death, because it was impossible for death to keep its hold on him. 25 David said about him: “‘I saw the Lord always before me. Because he is at my right hand, I will not be shaken. 26 Therefore my heart is glad and my tongue rejoices; my body also will rest in hope, 27 because you will not abandon me to the realm of the dead, you will not let your holy one see decay. 28 You have made known to me the paths of life; you will fill me with joy in your presence.’ 29 “Fellow Israelites, I can tell you confidently that the patriarch David died and was buried, and his tomb is here to this day. 30 But he was a prophet and knew that God had promised him on oath that he would place one of his descendants on his throne. 31 Seeing what was to come, he spoke of the resurrection of the Messiah, that he was not abandoned to the realm of the dead, nor did his body see decay. 32 God has raised this Jesus to life, and we are all witnesses of it. (Acts 2:22-32)
14 “I will deliver this people from the power of the grave; I will redeem them from death. Where, O death, are your plagues? Where, O grave, is your destruction? “I will have no compassion, (Hosea 13:14)
53 For the perishable must clothe itself with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality. 54 When the perishable has been clothed with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality, then the saying that is written will come true: “Death has been swallowed up in victory.” 55 “Where, O death, is your victory? Where, O death, is your sting?” 56 The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. 57 But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. 58 Therefore, my dear brothers and sisters, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain. (1 Corinthians 15:53-58)
8 So do not be ashamed of the testimony about our Lord or of me his prisoner. Rather, join with me in suffering for the gospel, by the power of God. 9 He has saved us and called us to a holy life — not because of anything we have done but because of his own purpose and grace. This grace was given us in Christ Jesus before the beginning of time, 10 but it has now been revealed through the appearing of our Savior, Christ Jesus, who has destroyed death and has brought life and immortality to light through the gospel. (2 Timothy 1:8-10)
17 When I saw him, I fell at his feet as though dead. Then he placed his right hand on me and said: “Do not be afraid. I am the First and the Last. 18 I am the Living One; I was dead, and now look, I am alive for ever and ever! And I hold the keys of death and Hades. (Revelation 1:17-18)
A. T. Pierson, a nineteenth-century teacher, arrived at an interesting result from his study of the Bible: “It is remarkable that in the New Testament, as far as I can recall, not once after Christ’s resurrection is it said that a disciple of Christ died without some further qualification being added on the matter.
- Stephen fell asleep (Acts 7:60).
- “because I know that I will soon put off this tent of my body, as our Lord Jesus Christ has made clear to me” — says the apostle Peter (2 Peter 1:14).
- the time of my departure has come — says the apostle Paul (2 Timothy 4:6). The metaphor here paints for us a picture of a ship leaving the dock, casting off from its moorings, unfurling its sails, and, carried by the wind, sailing away for heaven.
- The only place where the word “dead” is used, it is used with a qualifier: “the dead in Christ” (1 Thessalonians 4:16), “those who have fallen asleep in Jesus” (1 Thessalonians 4:14), and “the dead who die in the Lord” (Revelation 14:13).
“Christ destroyed not only death,” says Pierson, “but the very term death.”
THE FEAST OF THE CHRISTIAN FAITH
4. Easter is a great day because it is the feast of the resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ, and His resurrection is the foundation of our faith. The Christian faith is a resurrection faith!
The three colossal pillars of the Christian faith are Jesus’ virgin conception, His atoning death, and His bodily resurrection. Remove any one of them and the structure of the Christian faith will fall. Taken out of the context of all the others, each one is meaningless. Considered together, they make up the greatest story that has ever been told.
13 If there is no resurrection of the dead, then not even Christ has been raised. 14 And if Christ has not been raised, our preaching is useless and so is your faith. (1 Corinthians 15:13-14)
16 For if the dead are not raised, then Christ has not been raised either. 17 And if Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile; you are still in your sins. (1 Corinthians 15:16-17)
20 But Christ has indeed been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep. (1 Corinthians 15:20)
1 Now, brothers and sisters, I want to remind you of the gospel I preached to you, which you received and on which you have taken your stand. 2 By this gospel you are saved, if you hold firmly to the word I preached to you. Otherwise, you have believed in vain. 3 For what I received I passed on to you as of first importance: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, 4 that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures, (1 Corinthians 15:1-4)
On this a man of God named Henry Morris said the following:
The bodily resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead is the supreme proof of Christianity. If the resurrection did not happen, then Christianity is a false religion. If it did happen, then Christ is God and the Christian faith is absolute truth.
THE FEAST OF OUR FUTURE RESURRECTION
5. Easter is a great day because it is the feast of the resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ, and His resurrection is the guarantee of our resurrection. The fact that Jesus rose is a foretoken of the fulfillment of our blessed Christian hope — the glorious appearing of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ and the resurrection of the dead.
19 If only for this life we have hope in Christ, we are of all people most to be pitied. 20 But Christ has indeed been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep. 21 For since death came through a man, the resurrection of the dead comes also through a man. 22 For as in Adam all die, so in Christ all will be made alive. 23 But each in turn: Christ, the firstfruits; then, when he comes, those who belong to him. (1 Corinthians 15:19-23)
23 “Oh, that my words were recorded, that they were written on a scroll, 24 that they were inscribed with an iron tool on lead, or engraved in rock forever! 25 I know that my redeemer lives, and that in the end he will stand on the earth. 26 And after my skin has been destroyed, yet in my flesh I will see God; 27 I myself will see him with my own eyes — I, and not another. How my heart yearns within me! (Job 19:23-27)
1 See what great love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are! The reason the world does not know us is that it did not know him. 2 Dear friends, now we are children of God, and what we will be has not yet been made known. But we know that when Christ appears, we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is. 3 All who have this hope in him purify themselves, just as he is pure. (1 John 3:1-3)
John G. Paton, a missionary in the South Seas who lived in the nineteenth century, met with opposition when he left his home in Scotland to go and preach to the cannibal peoples of the New Hebrides islands. One well-meaning church member lamented over him, saying: “The cannibals, the cannibals! You will be eaten by cannibals!” Without hesitation Paton answered him: “I confess to you that if I can live and die serving my Lord Jesus Christ, it makes no difference to me whether I am eaten by cannibals or by worms. For on that great day of the resurrection, my body will rise, just as yours will, in the likeness of our risen Redeemer!”
Christ is risen!
Sources of the illustrations and quotations:
i, v. Morgan, R. J. (2000). Nelson’s Complete Book of Stories, Illustrations, and Quotes (electronic ed.), pp. 246. Nashville: Thomas Nelson Publishers.
ii. Evans, T. (2009). Tony Evans’ Book of Illustrations: Stories, Quotes, and Anecdotes from More Than 30 Years of Preaching and Public Speaking, p. 260. Chicago, IL: Moody Publishers.
iii. Morgan, R. J. (2000). Nelson’s Complete Book of Stories, Illustrations, and Quotes (electronic ed.), p. 188. Nashville: Thomas Nelson Publishers.
iv. Hobbs, H. H. (1990). My Favorite Illustrations, p. 126. Nashville, TN: Broadman Press.
vi. Green, M. P. (1989). Illustrations for Biblical Preaching: Over 1500 Sermon Illustrations Arranged by Topic and Indexed Exhaustively. Grand Rapids: Baker Book House.