Jesus is Alive! Why the Resurrection is Important, Part 2

The one event in world history that’s more important than any other is the resurrection of Jesus Christ. There’s nothing else that comes close. Because Jesus rose from the dead, we know the full penalty for our sins has been paid. There is nothing else we need to do or can do to save ourselves. Because Jesus rose, he’s alive and well to help us through life. We talked about these in the previous post. But there’s more. 

Another reason why the resurrection is important is that it shows us our future bodies. Paul gave us some insight in his first letter to the Corinthians: 

So is it with the resurrection of the dead. What is sown is perishable; what is raised is imperishable. It is sown in dishonor; it is raised in glory. It is sown in weakness; it is raised in power. It is sown a natural body; it is raised a spiritual body. If there is a natural body, there is also a spiritual body. (1 Corinthians 15:42-44)

Let’s follow what Paul is saying here. When a person dies, his soul separates from his body. The definition of death is the separation of the body from the soul. When believers die, our souls, our true selves, enter into God’s presence in heaven. 

Yes, we are of good courage, and we would rather be away from the body and at home with the Lord. (2 Corinthians 5:2)

We won’t be bodiless souls forever. The incredible news for Christians is that one day, we’ll be reunited with our physical bodies. But they won’t be our old bodies. These bodies we have now can’t enter eternal life. Not only will we not need these bodies in the next life, but we can’t use them there.

One day, we’ll have glorified, immortalized, resurrected physical bodies. These new bodies will be designed for our true home. They’ll be engineered to last for eternity. They’ll never grow old, never know disease, never suffer pain, and never die. And maybe, just maybe, never go bald.

We saw this new body with Jesus. After the resurrection, he had a completely different kind of body than he had before. It was an eternal body that would never die again.

We don’t have all the information about what our resurrected bodies will be like, but we know that Jesus ate breakfast, hung out, and was recognizable to those who knew him. He had a physical body. He wasn’t a ghost or spirit wandering around. One day, we’ll each have a physical body like the one Jesus had.

Not only does the resurrection show us what kind of body we’ll have, but here’s one more reason why the resurrection is so important — it makes our resurrection certain. Because Jesus rose, we will rise.

Death is not the end for you. It’’s the beginning of a brand new life in the presence of God.

Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live, and everyone who lives and believes in me shall never die. Do you believe this?” (John 11:25-26)

Do you believe it? When Jesus rose, he not only conquered sin, but he also conquered death. And he paved the way for us to conquer death as well.

We’ve all lost loved ones. Some of us here have experienced great tragedy. But Jesus rose from the dead, so death no longer has the victory; death does not have the final answer. Those who know God through Jesus will experience life with him for all eternity.

I’ve spoken at a lot of funerals. I’ve ministered to lots of people who didn’t know God, had no confidence about heaven, had no hope at all. It rips your heart out.

But if you accept the forgiveness that Jesus offers you, you have a relationship with the Heavenly Father that will last for all eternity. And that means when you experience physical death, your life will have just begun. When a Christian loved one dies, we can laugh at death in the face. “You think you’ve won here. But you haven’t. Jesus lives, so my loved one is alive and well and better than ever and has started on the very best part of life — with Jesus.”

And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man. He will dwell with them, and they will be his people, and God himself will be with them as their God. He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away.” (Revelation 21:3-4)

If you’re a follower of Christ, his resurrection means you don’t have to fear death. One day you and your loved ones who are believers will be able to experience life with no more sadness, no more worries, no more failures, no more tears, no more sickness, no more death.

We can only imagine what that must be like. But do imagine it, because no matter how wonderful we picture it, it’s a thousand times better than that! 

Because Jesus rose, we can face whatever life throws at us, including the end of this life. We know our eternal future is secure. Because of Jesus. 

In Christ alone, my hope is found.

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