When it comes to sharing the gospel with unbelievers, it’s been ingrained in me not to just say “Jesus died for your sins,” but to include that He was buried and rose again. Why? Because Paul defines the gospel as those three elements in 1 Cor. 15:1-4. So, I’ve always dutifully slipped in “and He rose again” to cover the bases, even when writing gospel tracts.
But Easter is coming. It’s when we spotlight “Jesus rose again.” I studied out from the Bible the fine points of why it’s so important that Jesus rose again… dots I’ve not connected on one page before. Here’s why it’s important that Jesus rose again:
- His enemies. In Matt. 27:63-64, those who crucified Jesus knew their victory was not complete. Jesus had said He would rise again three days later. They sealed His tomb tightly and stood guard. It didn’t work. He rose again anyway! Had He not done that, His enemies would have had their victory.
- His intercessory prayers. Jesus died, rose again and went to God’s right hand where He makes intercession for us. (Rom. 8:33-34) Now, I don’t know how He’s praying for me/us up there, but it’s an important work that’s only possible because He rose again. Could it be that this ongoing intercessory work is one reason why four verses in the Pauline epistles talk about the “faith OF Christ” (as if it’s His faith that works on our behalf) rather than “faith IN Christ” (as if it’s our faith that makes all the difference)? Those verses are Rom. 3:22, Gal. 2:16, 3:22, and Phil. 3:9. Just pondering. You find it in the KJV only.
- Firstfruits of the harvest. Jesus rose again to become the firstfruits of them that slept, or died. (1 Cor. 15-17-20) You know, in any field, which Jesus said is prophetically symbolic for the world in Matt. 13:38, there are three harvests: The firstfruits (Christ’s resurrection), the main harvest (the rapture of the church) and the gleanings (the rapture of the tribulation saints at Christ’s second coming—Matt. 24:29-31). There’s this big doctrine of the harvest in the Bible, and if Jesus wasn’t resurrected from the dead, the other two resurrections won’t happen either. The promise in Acts 1:9-11 that He will return to catch believers away in the clouds (at the second or main harvest) will not happen. And then where is our hope?
- The throne. If Jesus didn’t rise again, He’s dead, and He’s never going to sit on the throne. But you know, after He offered His body a sacrifice for sins forever, He rose and sat down on the right hand of God until He makes His enemies his footstool (Heb. 10:23-13). The whole Bible leads to Jesus on the throne ruling and reigning one day. If He didn’t rise again, the sovereign, dramatic conclusion will not come to pass! The word throne appears 39 times in Revelation—more than in any other book. In one of them, Jesus Himself said, To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with me in my throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with my Father in his throne. (Rev. 3:21)
Simply, Jesus was victorious over death, and that is absolutely everything! And having spoiled principalities and powers, he made a shew of them openly, triumphing over them in it. (Col. 2:15) He is risen indeed!
R&J Shee