13 If there is no resurrection of the dead, then not even Christ has been raised. 14 And if Christ has not been raised, our preaching is useless and so is your faith. – 1st Corinthians 15
Christ’s resurrection was necessary for our preaching to be useful. If Christ was not raised from the dead, then what is the point of the Christian faith? Our entire faith hinges on Christ’s victory over death by His Resurrection.
We hear this all the time. Every Easter the preacher teaches this message. Sometimes I think we forget how literal this passage is. Why do I think this you may ask? I think we forget that Jesus literally rose because when trials come we so easily become afraid. So many of us look for an escape that is not Jesus. I see this all the more prevalent in younger generations. We sink our time into our phones. That way we wont have to deal with what is at hand. It is good to have hobbies that relieve stress. Golf is a hobby for me. I am thankful I have something I am passionate about that relieves stress. Yet, as I sat on the tee box yesterday evening stressed about planning the future of my family I realized I was forgetting how literal the resurrection was.
Jesus literally died and came back to life. Think about it. Jesus literally rose from the dead. That is our brother. He is our Lord. Additionally, Jesus did not die as David Copperfield would have (for a show). He died beause he loves you. He loves me. He loves the world (John 3:16). If He can do that, He can fix calm whatever fears or anxieties you may have in your life. The resurrection is a theological idea, but it is also our mantra for life. He died so that our fears don’t kill us. He died so that we may live a life that is meaningful. He died so that we may face our fears with confidence understanding our eternal security will never change no matter how much evil persists in the world.
Do you believe that Jesus rose? If you do, smile. Be happy. God was concerned about you before you were even born. God gave his son 2,000 years before you could even breathe. Jesus rose from the dead for you 2,000 years before you even learned to walk. He did this because He loves you. Find hope today in the truth that He has risen indeed.