Easter Sunday is not just a spring holiday enjoyed with flowers and bunnies, but it is when Christians celebrate Jesus’ resurrection from the dead. (Read Matthew 28, Mark 16, Luke 24, or John 20.) Apart from the resurrection, the Church would not exist and there would be no hope for Christians. The resurrection is the central focus of all of Christianity, and it’s even the reason we meet for worship on Sundays instead of Saturdays like the Jews.

1) It means death is defeated.

At our church, as soon as you pull into the driveway you see the cemetery. You are immediately reminded that death is a fact of life and it is ahead for each one of us. But for the Christian, death has lost its sting.

20 But in fact Christ has been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep. 21 For as by a man came death, by a man has come also the resurrection of the dead. 22 For as in Adam all die, so also in Christ shall all be made alive. 23 But each in his own order: Christ the firstfruits, then at His coming those who belong to Christ (1 Cor. 15:20-23 ESV).

At the beginning of harvest time, the Jews would bring part of their first crops as an offering. The firstfruits are just the beginning, the first evidence of much more to come. Jesus was the firstfruits of resurrection. At His return, all people will be resurrected to face the judgment. Christians will be raised to eternal life, while unbelievers will face eternal death.

So believers don’t need to fear death. We know that it is just a temporary interruption before we can enjoy eternity with God. We can face death with the confidence that the next thing we see will be our Savior.

This also gives greater meaning to our life now. Our lives have a purpose that stretches into eternity—to glorify God, serve Him, and dwell with Him forever.

2) It means life is livable.

The resurrection also gives us power to live life as it was meant to be lived.

12 Having been buried with Him in baptism, in which you were also raised with Him through faith in the powerful working of God, who raised Him from the dead. 13 And you, who were dead in your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, God made alive together with Him, having forgiven us all our trespasses, 14 by canceling the record of debt that stood against us with its legal demands. This He set aside, nailing it to the cross (Col. 2:12-14).

According to Scripture, we actually died with Christ and have been raised with Him. Therefore, we have the ability to say no to sin and to pursue the good works God has set before us. We are spiritually alive, so we can put off the old sins and habits (the “flesh”) and put on the characteristics of our new life in Christ.

1 If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. 2 Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth. 3 For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God…  5 Put to death therefore what is earthly in you: sexual immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry. … 12 Put on then, as God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience (Col. 3:1-3, 5, 12).

This is not about trying harder to be good, but coming to the end of our own efforts and trusting God to work in us by His Holy Spirit. If Jesus was not resurrected, then we are still dead in our sins, with no hope of salvation or holiness.

3) It means Jesus is Jesus.

Jesus’ resurrection proves that He is who He said He was and He is the Messiah that was prophesied throughout the Old Testament.

1 Paul, a servant of Christ Jesus, called to be an apostle, set apart for the gospel of God, 2 which He promised beforehand through His prophets in the holy Scriptures, 3 concerning His Son, who was descended from David according to the flesh 4 and was declared to be the Son of God in power according to the Spirit of holiness by His resurrection from the dead, Jesus Christ our Lord (Rom. 1:1-4).

The resurrection was, for the apostles and for us, the proof of Jesus’ status as the Son of God. There is historically factual evidence for Jesus’ resurrection from the dead. He is alive, and even now is interceding for us before the Father.

Let us therefore live in light of the resurrection. We can trust Him as Savior, obey Him as Lord, and look forward to the return of our King.

4 But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which He loved us, 5 even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ… 8 For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, 9 not a result of works, so that no one may boast. 10 For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them (Eph. 2:4-5a, 8-10).

Application Questions

1) Of the three points listed, does one of them seem especially important to you? Why? Can you think of other reasons the resurrection matters to Christians today?

2) What can we learn from other Scriptures that mention the resurrection? (E.g. Romans 6:5-11, Philippians 3:8-11, 1 Peter 1:3-9.)

3) If someone asked you why Christians go to church on Easter, what would you tell them?