He Is Risen! - Bible Studies With Mark

 

 

 

 He is risen! Happy Easter! Today we will pause our study of the gospel of John to reflect on the meaning of Easter.

Easter is widely considered the most significant date on the Christian calendar. Without Easter, there is no Christian faith. In fact, the Apostle Paul makes this exact point quite bluntly in his first letter to the Corinthians:

"And if Christ be not risen, then is our preaching vain, and your faith is also vain." (1 Corinthians 15:14)

In Christian theology, the Resurrection is not just one miracle among many; it is the foundational event that validates everything Jesus said and did.  If Jesus remained in the grave, He would be remembered as a tragic figure, a martyr, or a wise teacher who was ultimately overcome by the state.  Because of the Resurrection, His followers believed He was exactly who He claimed to be—the Son of God. This transformed a group of frightened, hiding disciples into bold witnesses who were willing to face execution to spread the Gospel.

From a doctrinal standpoint, while the crucifixion is where Christians believe the "payment" for sin occurred, the Resurrection is the "receipt." It serves as the proof that the sacrifice was accepted and that death—the ultimate consequence of sin in biblical teaching—had been defeated. Without the "victory" of Easter, the story of Jesus ends in defeat at Calvary.

If you look at it strictly through a secular or historical lens, some might argue that a "Christian-like" movement could have survived as a moral philosophy based on the teachings of Jesus (like the Sermon on the Mount).  However, even historians generally agree that without the belief in the Resurrection, the early Church would likely have dissipated. There were many other "messianic" figures in the first century whose movements died the moment the leader was killed. Easter is the specific event that provided the momentum to turn a small Jewish sect into a global faith. 

Without Easter, you might have a philosophy of "Jesusism," but you wouldn't have the "Christian Faith" as it has been defined for two millennia. To explain its significance clearly, it helps to look at it through three primary lenses: Theology, Hope, and New Life.

The Theological Foundation

The core of Easter is the belief that Jesus, after being crucified and buried, rose from the dead on the third day. In Christian teaching, the resurrection proves Jesus' power over death and serves as the ultimate "stamp of approval" on His work on the cross. Furthermore, the resurrection is the fulfillment of Prophecy. Easter is seen as the climax of the entire biblical narrative, fulfilling Old Testament promises regarding a Savior who would redeem humanity. For Christians, the resurrection is the event that validates Jesus' claim to be the Son of God. Without this event, as the Apostle Paul noted, the faith would be "in vain."

A Message of Hope and Redemption

Easter shifts the focus from the sorrow of Good Friday (the crucifixion) to the joy of Sunday. It signifies that the debt of sin has been paid, offering a path for reconciliation between God and man. It provides hope to believers that, just as Christ was raised, they too will experience eternal life beyond physical death.

New Life

Baptism is the outward sign of an inner change. It symbolizes the death of the old, sinful man and the birth of a new creation. This is the new life we can have through Jesus. The transition from the tomb to the resurrection is available to everyone. All one must do is ask and receive the gift.

Why Does One Need a Savior?

The Problem: Our Condition

The journey begins by acknowledging the universal state of humanity. Romans 3:10 states that "There is none righteous, no, not one," and Romans 3:23 explains why: "For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God." This means that regardless of our background or effort, we have all missed the mark of God's perfect standard.

The Consequence: What Sin Costs

Next, we look at the result of that sin. Romans 6:23 begins with a sobering reality: "For the wages of sin is death." This refers not just to physical death, but to spiritual separation from God. However, the verse ends with hope, noting that "the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord."

The Provision: God's Solution

Even though we were separated from Him, God took the initiative to bridge the gap. Romans 5:8 tells us, ""but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us" This demonstrates that God didn't wait for us to get our lives together before showing His love; He provided the sacrifice while we were still in our sin.

The Response: Faith and Confession

Each of us has a choice. How will we respond to what Christ has done? Romans 10:9-10 provides the instructions: "That if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved." Finally, Romans 10:13 offers a beautiful promise of inclusivity: "For 'everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.'"

The Result: Peace with God

Once we accept this gift, our relationship with God is restored. Romans 5:1 says, "Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ." Through this path, we move from being separated by sin to being reconciled through faith.

My Prayer

My prayer for you is this: that you would come to know Jesus as your Savior. I pray that any impediment standing between you and Him would be supernaturally removed, never to return.

May you believe in your heart and confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord, and may He surround you with fellow believers to encourage and guide you as you learn to walk with Him.

If you already know Jesus as your Lord and Savior, I pray that He will bless and strengthen you, emboldening you to be the salt and light you are called to be.