It is the Easter season once again. A time where we as Christians gather to celebrate what Jesus did for us on the cross. But I think that a lot of the time that is where it ends for us. It seems like we praise Jesus for what He did on the cross, but don't ever stop to think about the significance of what happened 3 days later, we seem to think to ourselves "Oh He did this great thing on the cross" and we go on and on about the cross and when we come to the resurrection we simply think "and then He rose". We stop there. That's a problem. The resurrection is more important to our salvation than the cross! This may sound a little bit crazy, but let me explain.
In 1 Corinthians 15:17-22, Paul tells us
"And if Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile and you are still in your sins. Then those also who have fallen asleep in Christ have perished. If in Christ we have hope in this life only, we are of all people most to be pitied. But in fact Christ has been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep. For as by a man came death, by a man has come also the resurrection of the dead. For as in Adam all die, so also in Christ shall all be made alive." (ESV)
If things were the way we sometimes act as if they were (that is, Christ had died and was not resurrected) our faith would futile, we would still be hell bound! Without the resurrection, Jesus' death is meaningless. He would have died for no reason!
But, Christ has been raised from the dead! Verse 21 tells us that by a man (Jesus) all men shall be resurrected! His physical resurrection has given us an eternal resurrection, praise God!
Now let me be clear, I am not trying to downplay what was done on the cross, by all means, this makes it more important and praise worthy. Not only did it allow Jesus to pay a blood debt that we never could, but it got Him to the tomb, it got Him to the resurrection. What I AM saying, is that we need to remember the most important part, His resurrection.
He is risen!
He is risen indeed!
