Why Does the Resurrection Matter?
With Easter just days behind us, I am continuing to think about the various pieces of this holiday tradition. Colourful eggs, bunnies, chicks, chocolate of all colours, shapes and sizes…and then add to that the death and resurrection of a man named Jesus. What do those have to do with each other? Why should I care about any of it? Why do we get together with family and eat certain ethnic delicacies? Or better yet, why are covid-restricted Christians upset they can’t meet in person on this day in particular? Why does any of it matter?
Is the Easter Bunny Real
Time.com says this about the tradition of the Easter rabbit and the eggs he distributes:
The exact origins of the Easter bunny are clouded in mystery. One theory is that the symbol of the rabbit stems from pagan tradition, specifically the festival of Eostre—a goddess of fertility whose animal symbol was a bunny. Rabbits, known for their energetic breeding, have traditionally symbolized fertility.
Eggs also represent new life, and it’s believed that decorating eggs for Easter dates back to the 13th century. Hundreds of years ago, churches had their congregations abstain from eggs during Lent, allowing them to be consumed again on Easter. According to History.com, in the 19th century Russian high society started exchanging ornately decorated eggs—even jewel encrusted—on Easter.
Let’s Get Down to Business
Once we get past the spring-laden, fun-filled practices, we see deep historical and theological roots behind the Easter celebration. When we take a further look, we find Jesus of Nazareth. If you are unsure of his validity, please look at this article. For the rest of our discussion, however, I will assume you are convinced of His existence and aware of His teachings.
Jesus lived a simple, yet extraordinary life. He claimed to be the Son of God, committed to the will of His Father. He had a dedicated group of followers, namely The 12 Disciples, who did life together for approximately three years. During that time, Jesus taught them and many others about what it meant to love God and their neighbour. His actions were often unexplainable and for that reason, He drew attention and controversy. It wasn’t long before His claims became too much for the religious leaders of the day, and they conspired to do away with Him. Meanwhile, Jesus was predicting His imminent death…and resurrection. Interesting, but why does the resurrection matter today?
What Does the Resurrection Prove?
Jesus was who He said He was – the Son of God. How else can a dead man walk out of a tomb sealed with 1-2 ton boulder without outside help? Only God has power over nature and even death itself.
The prophecies were accurate. Old Testament prophecies such as Psalm 16:10 “because you will not abandon me to the realm of the dead, nor will you let your faithful one see decay,” written hundreds of years before, stand true in the face of the resurrection.
Isaiah 53:10-11 says,
Yet it was the Lord’s will to crush him and cause him to suffer,
and though the Lord makes his life an offering for sin,
he will see his offspring and prolong his days,
and the will of the Lord will prosper in his hand.
After he has suffered, he will see the light of life and be satisfied;
by his knowledge my righteous servant will justify many,
and he will bear their iniquities.
Jesus Himself prophesied about His death and resurrection: “When they came together in Galilee, he said to them, ‘The Son of Man is going to be delivered into the hands of men. They will kill him, and on the third day he will be raised to life.’” (Matt. 17:22-23)
He was there in the flesh, scars and all. In the forty days following the resurrection event, Jesus appeared to over 500 people (1 Cor. 15) so there would be eyewitness accounts. His presence erased all doubt and solidified the faith of all who saw Him. This unrelenting belief grew the evangelical church to where it is today, allowing for the transformation only the power of Jesus can bring.
What else?
His teaching was accurate and trustworthy. Why does the resurrection matter? Everything Jesus taught pointed to the cross – a life of love and sacrifice out of obedience to God. Without the resurrection, the cross was a useless waste. There is no foundation to stand on – God is weak, His love is a nice idea, and I am trapped in my sinfulness. BUT the resurrection changes all of that! The cross and empty tomb prove our mighty God has defeated sin, death and the devil for good.
Our faith and hope for the future are secure. Jesus is alive today! That is good news! He didn’t die again of old age fifty years after the resurrection – no! There were witnesses who saw Him ascend into heaven: “When he had led them out to the vicinity of Bethany, he lifted up his hands and blessed them. While he was blessing them, he left them and was taken up into heaven.” (Luke 24:50-51) “Christ Jesus who died—more than that, who was raised to life—is at the right hand of God and is also interceding for us.” (Rom. 8:34) So this means Jesus is alive and is reminding God, as He sits beside Him, the price has been paid for the sin of the world. It allows us to have a relationship with the God of the universe should we ask for it. That’s why the resurrection matters!
But What Does it Mean for Me Personally?
Even though I am well rehearsed in the biblical facts of the Easter story, it is of utmost importance to me to know that it matters beyond tradition or habit. I don’t want to waste time, effort, emotion, intention, worship, or anything else on something that isn’t real. In times of frustration and disappointment, I have asked myself, “Is God legit? Is faith even worth it?” But the truth of the cross and the empty tomb bring me back every time.
As I work through these proofs, I am filled with assurance and hope. Even though there are many things I will never understand, I know my God is alive and active. His forgiveness is profound. His healing is transformative and His mercy is incomparable. I have seen many people find freedom because they dared to believe that God was legit, their lives radically changed out of addiction and trauma. Broken relationships have been restored and toxic thinking iradicated.
The empty tomb is everything. Without Jesus and the enduring love and mercy of God, we have nothing to look live for. Making another dollar, achieving a certain weight, finding a marriage partner…these are good things, but they are not fulfilling outside of the light of Christ. If life is about finding my own happiness and trying to be a good person, I won’t make it very long. This is why the resurrection matters. It provides identity, purpose and direction.
What now?
As you hear these proofs and my personal journey through them, what stirs in you? Where can you chime in with a whole hearted “YES!”? Where does it fall short? If you need permission to ask hard quesions, its yours. Please give space to your wondering and doubt. Seek someone with whom you can wrestle these things out. If you have followed Jesus for any length of time but feel disillusioned or jaded, find a tender soul to share with. Consider coaching or therapy if you need someone to walk with you and point you in His direction again. If you have yet to walk with Jesus, I would love to introduce you to Him and answer any questions you may have.
He died for you. He rose for you. Jesus lives for you. You are not alone.
