Our reading this week in L3 takes us through the resurrection and events immediately following. The importance of this event is impossible to overstate.

The Resurrection is the linchpin of our Christian faith.

Paul says as much in 1 Corinthians 15:13-14... "But if there is no resurrection of the dead, then not even Christ has been raised. And if Christ has not been raised, then our preaching is in vain and your faith is in vain."

Believe in the Resurrection

But here is the issue, I can't prove to you that the resurrection happened. In this era of Twitter, Facebook, iPhones and YouTube, we have evidence of everything, but the resurrection is not something that can be seen to be believed.

What we have is eye-witness testimony found in the Gospels, documents whose validity are attested to more than any other ancient piece of literature, the incredible testimony of faith passed down from generation to generation for close to 2,000 years and the Spirit of the Living God confirming the truth of the resurrection in our lives.

Don't sleep on the last one. Many people look at the Resurrection. Some believe. Some don't. What makes people look at the same evidence and come to different conclusions? Those who believe in the the truth of the resurrection have been made to see by the Holy Spirit, preparing their heart for faith.

That is in fact the purpose of John, right? John 20:31 - "but these are written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name." We are being called to believe in the resurrection, so that we may have life.

Declare the Resurrection

Jesus appeared to the disciples to confirm with them that indeed the resurrection had occurred. They were scared, frightened and held up in a locked room, and Jesus entered proving beyond a shadow of a doubt who He was. Truly he was the Son of God.

But proof and comfort were not his only mission in appearing to them. John 20:21 "...peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, even so I am sending you." Jesus was telling them to take His message to the world. The resurrection gave them full confidence to boldly declare the gospel because they knew the truth, the truth that sets them free. No longer would they be hiding in a locked room; they would be out declaring the risen Savior. The proof of the resurrection and the subsequent sending of the Holy Spirit were the catalysts that led to coming explosion of the Gospel in the book of Acts.

We are no different from the disciples. If we look at the Jesus and the resurrection and we believe, then we are to go. Believe and tell. Receive and give. It is a true mark of a disciple and the desired responses that God wants from us as we dwell on the empty tomb.

Brian Tryhus
FBC Family Pastor