01 Apr What does Jesus’ resurrection mean for me? – Apr 15

By Ferdinand Haratua

How important is Jesus’ resurrection from the dead?

“Jesus died on the cross for my sins” – is a statement that Christians would probably have heard countless of times. Most Christians would also believe in the significance of Jesus’ atoning death on the cross for our sins, but, how about Jesus’ resurrection from the dead?

Jesus’ resurrection is just as important as His atoning death on the cross. If Christ has not been raised from the dead, then we are worshipping a dead master instead of the risen LORD; which means we are all still living in our sins, and then our faith in Christ would be in vain.

If Christ has not been raised, we are all wasting our time following Jesus, which then means Christians are the most pitiful people alive. (Read 1 Corinthians 15, especially verses 17–19).

So, Jesus has been raised from the dead, what does it really mean?

In a supermarket, you might often see the claims made by the food manufacturers on their products – gluten free, organic, 99% fat free, no artificial colouring or flavouring, and so on. But for the claim to be legit, it needs the approval from the respective food authority. The resurrection of Jesus is the approval that God the Father accepts the work of Jesus on the cross. Anyone can claim to be the saviour of the world, but only Jesus has God’s tick-of-approval.

Therefore, in Jesus’ resurrection, we find the forgiveness of sins (1 Cor 15:17) and that we are no longer condemned (Rom 8:34). In His resurrection, we also find hope of repentance (Acts 5:13), and because of it, we can experience the new birth (1 Pet 1:3). We can be born again not only because Christ has died on the cross, but that He has also been raised from the dead.

Finally, Jesus’ resurrection means our resurrection is also guaranteed. It gives assurance that followers of Christ will also be raised from the dead; that our earthly death is the beginning of eternal life, not the end of it.

How should we then respond knowing this truth that Jesus has been raised from the dead?
I don’t know about you, but I believe an appropriate immediate response would be: “WOW! You did that for me?!”

Paul’s words in 1 Corinthians 15:58 offer us a helpful advice on how we should respond, he writes: “Therefore, my beloved brothers, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that in the Lord your labour is not in vain.”

Paul implores us to abound in the work of the Lord – do Christ-exalting work with our lives. In our work, Paul also encourages to be steadfast and immovable. So when the going gets tough, keep on going!