Try #2 – let’s hope Blogger doesn’t delete this one 🙁
The Resurrection of Jesus is vital. It’s not just a nice story; it’s not given to make a happy ending. It is of first importance for many reasons. I’ll give you some of them. A few of these reasons I am taking from a sermon I heard by Dwight Pryor.
The resurrection of Jesus proves that death is not the end. The grave could not hold our Lord, neither will it hold us. Death does not have the last word. God does.
The resurrection of Jesus gives confirmation that on the cross the death of Jesus truly was victorious and the punishment for our sins has been paid for. God’s wrath towards you is gone. God is satisfied.
The resurrection of Jesus proves that He is exactly who He says He was. The Bible makes it very clear that it was God who raised Jesus from the grave. God would not raise a liar or a lunatic but a Father will gladly raise His beloved Son. Jesus is glorified.
The resurrection of Jesus guarantees that this world along with you and I will be redeemed. This life, our struggle with sin isn’t the end of the story. This broken world devastated by sin and death will be restored and made new, along with you and I and all who are in Christ. We are justified.
The resurrection of Jesus gives us hope and assurance that we can and will persevere. God is able to save you to the uttermost. He is able to hold you to the end. He is able to give you the strength you need to persevere bc the power that raised Jesus from the dead now resides in you – if you are in Christ Jesus.
The resurrection of Jesus gives assurance that your faith is not in vain. God has already won the victory, the battle is over. It’s only a matter of time now. Your faith will be made sight. You will see the Son of God in all His glory and the Lord God upon His throne. This world will cry out Holy is the Lord and we will see it!
The resurrection of Jesus is our guarantee. The resurrection of Jesus is our proof. The resurrection of Jesus is our assurance. The resurrection of Jesus is the beginning.
He is risen indeed! Praise God!
Don't forget Lazarus' resurrection. Many of these items would have been sufficiently proven by his resurrection alone.
"Though I lie in bonds, O Savior," Lazarus cried from below to Thee his Deliverer, "yet shall I not remain forever in the depth of Hell, if Thou wilt only call to me, ‘Lazarus, come out;’ for Thou art my Light and my Life."
"I implore thee, Lazarus," said Hell, "Rise up, depart quickly from my bonds and be gone. It is better for me to lament bitterly for the loss of one, rather than of all those whom I swallowed in my hunger."
Shaking the gates and iron bars, Thou hast made Hell tremble at Thy voice. Hell and Death were filled with fear, O Savior, seeing Lazarus their prisoner brought to life by Thy word and rising from the tomb.
-from the Canon of the Raising of Lazarus
But indeed, this was only prefiguring the main event:
Today hell groans and cries aloud: "My power has been destroyed. I accepted a mortal man as one of the dead; yet I cannot keep Him prisoner, and with Him I shall lose all those over whom I ruled. I held in my power the dead from all the ages; but see, He is raising them all." Glory to Thy Cross, O Lord, and to Thy Resurrection.
Give my greetings to Bryan.
amen, my friend!