Have you not heard of that madman who lit a lantern in the bright morning hours, ran to the market-place, and cried incessantly: “I am looking for Michael Jackson! I am looking for the King of POP!”
As many of those who did not believe such news were standing together there, he excited considerable laughter. Have you lost him, then? said one. Did he lose his way like a child? said another. Or is he hiding? Is he afraid of us? Has he gone on a voyage? or emigrated? Thus they shouted and laughed. “Where has Michael Jackson gone?” Do we not hear anything yet of the noise of the gravediggers who are burying Michael Jackson? Do we not smell any decomposition? Kings too decompose. Michael Jackson is dead. Michael Jackson remains dead.[1]
We all take it for granted that we will see another day, so did Michael Jackson. In fact he was scheduled to perform in the United Kingdom in July. Death seems to have no concern or respect for our lives or priorities, it is not concerned with those who are going to grieve it appears to be selfish. But really…how different is death from a life not glorifying to God. We think that our life is defined by our jobs, fancy cars, and designer clothes. Life is not defined by what you have, even when you have a lot. Michael Jackson is going to meet his creator naked…without Neverland or his wealth. Jesus told a story about the farm of a certain rich man produced a terrific crop. He talked to himself: ‘What can I do? My barn isn’t big enough for this harvest. ‘ Then he said, ‘Here’s what I’ll do: I’ll tear down my barns and build bigger ones. Then I’ll gather in all my grain and goods, and I’ll say to myself, Self, you’ve done well! You’ve got it made and can now retire. Take it easy and have the time of your life!’ “Just then God showed up and said, ‘Fool! Tonight you die. And your barnful of goods—who gets it?’ “That’s what happens when you fill your barn with Self and not with God.
The dying atheist Voltaire, who was very rich, declared that he would give half his riches to his doctor if he could prolong his life for six more months. He had no hope for resurrection after his death; he could only hope to extend his life in this world. Like Voltaire, the vast majority of modernists reject the resurrection of the body altogether. The prevailing modern view is that miracles are against reason, so they do not happen; therefore, Jesus Christ did not rise from the dead and no one else can either. Yet the resurrection of Jesus Christ is a historical fact as recorded in the historical records of the New Testament. It is the cornerstone of Christianity
Jesus Christ alone conquered death for us! Jesus Christ was raised from the dead, just as the Scriptures say he did. Because Christ rose from the dead, we have no reason to fear. When the risen Christ spoke to his disciples, his first words were, “Peace be unto you; do not be afraid.” Christianity is the only religion that is based on the historical fact of the death and resurrection of its founder. Even secular historians acknowledge that the resurrection of Jesus Christ is unique in world history.
The angel said to the women, “Do not be afraid, for I know that you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified. He is not here; he has risen, just as he said.”Matthew 28:5-6
Salvation Based on the Resurrection of Christ
Our very salvation is based on the fact of the resurrection of Jesus Christ. It is very simple: If the most unusual and difficult prophecy of Jesus concerning his own resurrection came true, then all the teachings of Jesus Christ must be true. Jesus Christ said, “I have come to give my life as a ransom for many.” These words of Jesus were validated by his resurrection from the dead.
When Jesus asked, “Who do you say that I am?” Peter confessed, “Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God.” This tells us that Jesus Christ is God. In Romans 1 we read that that God the Father declared Jesus Christ to be the Son of God with power. The resurrection of Christ tells us that Jesus Christ is God.
The resurrection of Jesus Christ means that the death of Jesus Christ was a sufficient atonement for our sins and God is satisfied with the redemption price. God demands a redemption price for us which Psalm 49 says no man can pay because it is so costly. But not only does God demand a price for our redemption, he also pays it. Jesus Christ’s death was accepted by the Father because it alone satisfied his demand for divine justice.
The Meaning of the Resurrection of Christ
What is the meaning of it all? The Bible tells us Christ died, not for his own sin, but for our sins, so that those who trust in Christ can stand in the presence of God in the perfect righteousness of Jesus Christ. That is what salvation is all about.
If Jesus rose from the dead, which he did, his teaching on the universality of sin must be true. In John 8:24 Jesus said, “if you do not believe that I am the one I claim to be, you will indeed die in your sins.” Why did Jesus Christ come into the world? Because of sin. The truth is, all have sinned and come short of the glory of God.
The resurrection of Jesus Christ speaks about particular redemption. Jesus Christ died for our sins and raised from the dead to redeem those whom God gave to him. As we said before, Jesus spoke about this in John 6:39, saying, “And this is the will of him who sent me, that I shall lose none of all that he has given me, but raise them up at the last day.”
The resurrection of Jesus Christ means that Jesus Christ defeated all our enemies for us on the cross. We are set free from our enemy, the flesh, which is our body in which sin dwells. We are set free from the law that accuses us. We are set free from the world. We are set free from the devil. Finally, we are set free from death itself.
Additionally, the resurrection of Jesus Christ means that we also are going to be raised from the dead with a resurrection body. In 1 Corinthians 15:20 we read, “But Christ has indeed been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep.” Paul uses the figure of aparchê, which means firstfruit. The agricultural people understood that the firstfruit pointed to the coming harvest. If there is a firstfruit, there will be a harvest, and as the firstfruit tastes, the harvest will taste. In other words, the resurrection of Jesus Christ is the guarantee of the resurrection of those united to him by faith.
Our resurrection is guaranteed by the resurrection of Jesus Christ. In 1 Corinthians 6:14 we read, “By his power God raised the Lord from the dead, and he will raise us also.” In 2 Corinthians 4:14 we read, “[W]e know that the one who raised the Lord Jesus from the dead will also raise us with Jesus and present us with you in his presence.” In 1 Thessalonians 4:14 we read, “We believe that Jesus died and rose again and so we believe that God will bring with Jesus those who have fallen asleep in him.” Finally, in Romans 8:11 we read, “And if the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead is living in you, he who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through his Spirit, who lives in you.” In these verses we notice that our resurrection is tied to the resurrection of Jesus Christ. If he rose from the dead, we also will rise from the dead. The resurrection of Jesus Christ in history is the guarantee that his people, who are united with him, will also be raised from the dead with a glorious body.
Not only that, the resurrection of Jesus Christ guarantees that he is coming again as Judge. Jesus himself taught this truth. He is going to come in great glory and meet with Ernest Renan and every other person, believer and unbeliever alike, as we read in Matthew 25. There will be a resurrection of the just and the unjust.
The resurrection of Christ also tells us that there is a place in heaven for us. Jesus said he came from heaven and is going back there. It means there is a heaven somewhere from which he came down, to which he went, and to which place we will also go the moment we die.
The resurrection of Jesus Christ also means that Jesus was without sin. He asked the question, “Who is there to convict me of sin?” It means that Jesus Christ was God/man. It means that he has authority on earth to forgive sins. Jesus Christ alone is able to forgive sins because he died for our sins and was raised for our justification.
If all of these things are true, based on the resurrection of Christ, then this is also true: Jesus Christ said that anyone who repents and believes on him will be saved; if Jesus rose from the dead, then if you trust in him, you will be saved. That should give us great hope.
Also because Jesus Christ rose from the dead, we now have victory over sin, as we read in Romans 6 and Colossians 3. Even now, the power that animates us is the power of the resurrected Christ. In Philippians 3:10 Paul wrote, “I want to know Christ and the power of his resurrection.” We died with him, were buried with him, and are raised with him to live the new life. Now we can overcome all temptation.
Because Jesus rose again, we are regenerated, as we read in 1 Peter 1:3, “Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead. . . .” If Christ was not raised, no one would be regenerated.
Because Jesus Christ rose from the dead, what he said about the devil is true. There is a personal devil, who is the god and prince of this world. Praise be to God, Christ defeated him and his minions by his resurrection . Now if we resist the devil, the devil shall flee from us.
Jesus Christ is coming soon in great glory. Do you belong to him? Have you been united with him by faith? If so, you have nothing to fear. Peace be unto you, he is saying to you even now. But if you do not belong to him, he is coming for a different purpose. He will judge you and say, “Depart from me to eternal punishment!”
[1] Adapted from Friedrich Nietzsche, God is dead quote
