Passion Week Sunday - The Resurrection of Christ
Resurrection Sunday – the climax of Passion week. Every day before has been building up to this. Christ died and was buried on Friday, but Sunday, He defeated death and rose again. This day was so significant that the church gathered on Sunday rather than on the Sabbath (Saturday). This begs the question: why is the resurrection so important for the Christian faith?
Isn’t Christ’s death which pays for our sins what matters the most? Today, we will explore three reasons why the resurrection is essential for the Christian faith. The first reason is that Scripture predicted it would occur. John 20:9 says this, “For as yet they did not understand the Scripture, that He must rise again from the dead.” Jesus needed to rise from the dead because Scripture cannot be broken (John 10:35). What passages in the Old Testament predicted Jesus’ resurrection? We will focus on two passages. Psalm 16:10 is the first: “For You will not abandon my soul to Sheol; Nor will You allow Your Holy One to undergo decay.” David, speaking through the Holy Spirit, wrote these words expressing his trust in God. However, Paul in Acts 15:35-37 exegetes the passage for us and ties it to Jesus’ resurrection, “Therefore He also says in another Psalm, ‘YOU WILL NOT ALLOW YOUR HOLY ONE TO UNDERGO DECAY.’ “For David, after he had served the purpose of God in his own generation, fell asleep, and was laid among his fathers and underwent decay; but He whom God raised did not undergo decay.” Paul points out that this text couldn’t have applied to David because he died and underwent decay. However, Christ did not, making him the fulfillment of this passage. Scripture says Jesus had to rise again. If He didn’t, Scripture would be false, and we would believe in a lie.
Secondly, the resurrection is crucial because it proves that Jesus’ death can forgive sins. Romans 4:24-25 is one of the key texts which captures this idea: “but for our sake also, to whom it will be credited, as those who believe in Him who raised Jesus our Lord from the dead, He who was delivered over because of our transgressions, and was raised because of our justification.” Notice the last part, Jesus “was raised because of our justification.” He connects our justification with not just the death of Christ but the resurrection of Christ. Another passage to consider is 1 Corinthians 15:17 – “and if Christ has not been raised, your faith is worthless; you are still in your sins.” He clarifies that Christ had to be raised from the dead or else our faith is worthless and our sins are not forgiven. Jesus’ resurrection proves His death has the power to forgive our sins.
Lastly, the resurrection provides the basis for our sanctification. The resurrection amazingly has ramifications for our daily obedience to God. How is this so? Romans 6:4 explains: “Therefore we have been buried with Him through baptism into death, so that as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, so we too might walk in newness of life.” Notice what the text says. Christ was raised so that we can walk differently. God doesn’t just forgive our sins. That is already immeasurable grace. He also pours out more grace by uniting the believer spiritually with Christ in His death and in His resurrection so that we can walk in a way that pleases him. The believer can love God and love people (Matthew 22:37-40) because Christ was raised from the dead.
The resurrection proves Scripture is true, proves Jesus’ death has the power to forgive sins and provides a way for us to live in newness of life. Christ’s resurrection is a glorious truth that we must reflect upon daily and proclaim boldly. Let us not easily forget to declare the glorious resurrection of Christ both to ourselves and unbelievers around us. If you haven’t trusted in Christ as your only hope to be righteous before God, you can turn to the risen Savior today. Christ lived perfectly, died willingly, resurrected powerfully, and ascended gloriously. This is the savior of the world. What a savior! What a God!
