(Rom 1:1-4) Paul, a servant of Jesus Christ, called to be an apostle, separated unto the gospel of God, {2} (Which he had promised afore by his prophets in the holy scriptures,) {3} Concerning his Son Jesus Christ our Lord, which was made of the seed of David according to the flesh; {4} And declared to be the Son of God with power, according to the spirit of holiness, by the resurrection from the dead:
People around the world will celebrate Easter is various ways. Some will color eggs and hide them for children; others will give candy to others (especially children) others will fast something during the days preceding Easter (Lent) and many will attend some type of religious service (for many it will be one of only two times they attend a church service). But in all these things will people really see or understand the significance of the resurrection.
Jesus resurrected from the dead and He alone experienced a resurrection. There were others that experienced being raised to life by Jesus, but each one had to die again later. Jesus arose never to die again and has a glorified body and is seated at the right hand of the Father in heaven.
His resurrection was a sign to the world that He is the Son of God as He testified to while on this earth in human form. Jesus is the dividing line between true and false belief systems. John tells us: “Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world. {2} Hereby know ye the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesseth that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is of God: {3} And every spirit that confesseth not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is not of God: and this is that spirit of antichrist, whereof ye have heard that it should come; and even now already is it in the world. . . Hereby know we the spirit of truth, and the spirit of error.” The resurrection is proof that Jesus is who He said he is – the Son of God, very God of very God; He is Jehovah God the Creator of everything – and John tells us that any belief system that denies the divinity of Jesus as Jehovah God is a false belief. There are those who declare Him to be “a” god but He is God the Creator.
When Jesus was questioned about His authority that only God had, and they asked him for a sign to prove He had that authority, He responded: “An evil and adulterous generation seeketh after a sign; and there shall no sign be given to it, but the sign of the prophet Jonas: {40} For as Jonas was three days and three nights in the whale's belly; so shall the Son of man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth.” Just before this they accused Him of casting out demons by the power of the devil. Jesus said the only proof they would have was the resurrection from the dead. They remembered this and after they crucified Him they requested a guard be placed about His tomb.
Paul said that the power of Christ’s resurrection proves that He is the Son of God and that forgiveness of sins is only obtained through His finished work on Calvary. After Pentecost the disciples told the people that God has made Jesus both Lord and Christ and that salvation is only in His name. No priest, Amman, or any other religious figure can forgive your sin and grant you freedom from sin and its penalty – only Jesus Christ.
We sing that great Easter song, Up From the Grave He Arose and in it we sing, death could not keep his prey, Jesus, my Savior; He tore the bars away, Jesus my Lord”. Death cannot hold the Prince of Life just as darkness cannot over power light. The night may be dark and without light, but as soon as the sun rises up, the darkness is dispelled.
Jesus said, “Because I live you shall live also.” He arose with power over death and it assures us that we can experience the same power one day.
The early Christians greeted one another with the phrase, “Christ is risen” to which the other would respond, “He is risen indeed.” So I leave you this week with the words, ‘Christ is risen”