Easter represents the paramount (meaning the most important) and most joyous feast of the entire Christian year. It's not just another holiday; it's the ultimate celebration of the Resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead – the absolute, foundational, and undeniable truth of our entire Christian faith. Without the Resurrection, our faith simply wouldn't exist.
Picture the incredible events of that first Easter morning (Luke 24:1-12). It was the day after the Sabbath, very early in the morning. A group of faithful women, including Mary Magdalene, bravely went to Jesus' tomb, carrying spices to properly prepare His body for burial. But when they arrived, they were stunned. The huge stone that had sealed the tomb was rolled away, and the tomb was empty! Initially, there was confusion, shock, and even some disbelief among the women and then among the disciples when they heard the news. Imagine the mix of emotions: fear, wonder, and then gradually, an overwhelming wave of joy and unwavering conviction as they began to understand what had happened. There's a crucial detail mentioned in John's Gospel (John 20:6-7): when Peter and John ran to the tomb, they saw that Jesus' linen burial cloths were not thrown around, as if a body had been stolen. Instead, they were lying there, and the cloth that had covered Jesus' head was neatly folded in a separate place. This little but powerful detail indicates not a hurried theft by robbers, but a deliberate, orderly departure, powerfully reinforcing the reality of the Resurrection. This monumental event was not just Jesus coming back to life for a short time; it was a definitive, triumphant victory over sin, death, and even Satan himself - Jesus conquered them all.
The Resurrection of Christ is the absolute bedrock of our faith. It confirms His divinity, meaning it proves beyond any doubt that Jesus is truly God. It completely validates all His teachings, showing that everything He said was true. And it magnificently fulfills Old Testament prophecies, proving, once and for all, that He is indeed the long-awaited Son of God and Messiah. Because Jesus rose from the dead, it also stands as the ultimate guarantee of our own future resurrection – a promise that we too will one day rise to eternal life with Him. This astonishing truth is the source of our hope; it gives us endless hope for a glorious future with God.
To further verify this incredible victory, the Risen Christ made numerous appearances over 40 days after His Resurrection. He appeared first to Mary Magdalene. He appeared to two disciples who were walking on the road to Emmaus, who only recognized Him when He broke bread with them. He appeared to His Apostles who were gathered in the Upper Room, showing them His wounds so they knew it was truly Him, not a ghost. These appearances were critical for historically proving He was alive and for formally commissioning His followers (giving them the mission and authority to go out and share this amazing Good News with the whole world).
Easter isn't just one day; it's a glorious season of profound spiritual joy, celebrated for fifty days. This celebratory period stretches all the way until Pentecost, which marks the coming of the Holy Spirit. Easter truly ushers in the dawn of a new creation, initiated by Christ's triumph over sin and death. It's an invitation for all believers to live as "new creatures" in Him, filled with the hope, joy, and new life that His Resurrection brings!
Evidence of the Resurrection: Witness of the apostles - Apostles were ordinary, sinful men. They were fishermen who were no better than anyone else. Peter denied Jesus three times during Jesus’ most critical night on earth. Each apostle had their faults. After Jesus was killed they were hiding! At times, they were cowardly, average men. However, once they saw that Jesus rose from the dead, it changed them completely. Each one of these “cowardly” men would dedicate their lives to spreading the message of Jesus. And each one of them (all 12 except for John) would be killed, in horrible, painful ways, because they refused to say that Jesus was not God. If Jesus didn’t rise from the dead, if he was not God, why would all of these men go to their torturous deaths for a lie??? They wouldn’t. They were willing to die for Jesus because they knew it was the truth that he rose from the dead. That they may die in this life but they knew of the joy that heaven would bring. The odds of regular, sinful, fearful men becoming revolutionaries for a lie is basically impossible. The witness of the apostles may be the most convincing evidence we have for the proof that Jesus rose from the dead and that Jesus truly is God.
Scripture Passages:
Luke 24:1-6: "On the first day of the week, very early in the morning, the women took the spices they had prepared and went to the tomb. They found the stone rolled away from the tomb, but when they entered, they did not find the body of the Lord Jesus. While they were wondering about this, suddenly two men in clothes that gleamed like lightning stood beside them. In their fright the women bowed down with their faces to the ground, but the men said to them, 'Why do you look for the living among the dead? He is not here; he has risen!'"
1 Corinthians 15:3-4: "For what I received I passed on to you as of first importance: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures."
John 20:6-7: "Then Simon Peter came along, following him, and went into the tomb. He saw the strips of linen lying there, as well as the cloth that had been wrapped around Jesus’ head. The cloth was still lying in its place, separate from the linen."
Reflection Questions:
Why is the Resurrection of Jesus the most important event in Christian history?
What evidence from the Gospel accounts points to the truth of the Resurrection?
How does the witness of the Apostles help us believe in the Resurrection as something that truly happened?
Multiple Choice Questions:
According to the text, why is the Resurrection of Jesus considered the "foundational truth of our entire Christian faith"?
a) It is the most impressive miracle Jesus performed.
b) It is the ultimate celebration of a new holiday.
c) It is the absolute proof that Jesus is truly God and our faith would not exist without it.
d) It shows that Jesus was a very good teacher.
What specific detail from the empty tomb is mentioned as a powerful sign that the body was not stolen by robbers?
a) The stone had been rolled away by angels.
b) The tomb was completely clean.
c) The linen burial cloths were lying there neatly, with the head cloth folded separately.
d) A note was left for the disciples.
The Resurrection of Christ is described as the "bedrock of our faith" because it confirms what about Jesus?
a) That He was a wise prophet.
b) His divinity, validates His teachings, and fulfills Old Testament prophecies.
c) That He was an ordinary man.
d) That He had many followers.
The text states that the Risen Christ made numerous appearances for 40 days after His Resurrection for what main purpose?
a) To prove He was alive and to give His followers a mission and authority.
b) To take a long vacation with His disciples.
c) To tell them to return to their old jobs.
d) To perform more miracles for the people.
Why is the witness of the Apostles considered to be powerful evidence for the Resurrection?
a) They were all famous and well-respected people.
b) They were known for being liars.
c) They were cowardly men who would not have willingly suffered and died for a lie.
d) They were the first people to find the empty tomb.