From Matthew 27:62-28:15
Jesus rose from the dead on the third day. This, alongside the divinity of Jesus and His sacrificial atonement, are cornerstones of the Christian faith. In the words of Paul, “if Christ has not been raised, then our preaching is in vain, and your faith is in vain.” (1 Corinthians 15:14) Jesus’ resurrection proves that He is who He said He is, the Son of God. Jesus’ resurrection demonstrates that we ought to take His teaching seriously as the Word of God. Jesus’ resurrection proclaims His victory and our salvation from sin, death, and the power of the devil. Jesus’ resurrection means so much, it is no wonder that the elders of the time pay off the guards to “tell people His disciples came by night and stole Him away.” All the different reasons that drove the different leaders to put Jesus to death in the first place also drove them to try and discredit His resurrection.
It's little wonder that there are those who might want to discredit the resurrection still today, because those realities persist. If Jesus rose from the dead, it still means that He was the Son of God, it still means that we ought to take His teaching as the Word of God, and it still proclaims the promise of eternal life to those who believe. If He is who He said He is, that puts a lot of people into an untenable and uncomfortable place – it’s much easier to deny His resurrection and everything that comes with it. But we know that Jesus did rise from the dead, and everything that comes with it. So we rejoice in His Word, we strive to follow His instructions for our lives, and we take comfort in the promise of eternal life He has given us.
Focus on God
We are reminded in these verses that God graciously raised Jesus from the dead.
Function in Our Lives
We are encouraged to take Jesus’ teachings seriously.
Topics to Pray About
- Thank God for the power of His Son.
- Confess to God the times where you live as if Jesus didn’t rise from the dead.
- Ask God to use you as a witness of the resurrection.
In His Service,
J. LeBorious