Title: He is Risen Indeed
Scripture Reading: Matthew 28:6: 1 Corinthians 15:9-15
“He is not here: for he is risen, as he said.”
For I am the least of the apostles, that am not meet to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God.
10 But by the grace of God I am what I am: and his grace which was bestowed upon me was not in vain; but I laboured more abundantly than they all: yet not I, but the grace of God which was with me.
11 Therefore whether it were I or they, so we preach, and so ye believed.
12 Now if Christ be preached that he rose from the dead, how say some among you that there is no resurrection of the dead?
13 But if there be no resurrection of the dead, then is Christ not risen:
14 And if Christ be not risen, then is our preaching vain, and your faith is also vain.
15 Yea, and we are found false witnesses of God; because we have testified of God that he raised up Christ: whom he raised not up, if so be that the dead rise not.
Throughout history some words have inspired hope, comforted the grieving, and motivated others to reach for new heights.
But of all the words ever spoken, none have echoed through the ages and changed the course of history as the words spoken by an angel at an empty grave: “He is not here. He is risen!”
The first Easter
An interesting aspect of early Christian history is that the resurrection, not the cross, was the central theme of Christian preaching. Certainly, the cross is vital to our faith, for it was the means through which Jesus atoned for our sins. But listen to Paul’s words: “If Christ has not been raised, our preaching is useless and so is your faith . . . if Christ has not been raised then you are still in your sins” (1 Cor. 15:14, 17).
The early believers saw themselves as “witnesses to the resurrection”
The book of Corinthians presents Christ as the mighty conqueror who removes the painful sting of death, and promises a holy transformation from mortal flesh to the immortal body in union with God.
So, what does Christ’s risen indeed does?
I. Proclaims Christ’s deity
The resurrection proclaims the deity of Christ.
II. Promotes our dignity
1 Corinthians 15:0-10
‘For I am the least of the apostles, that am not meet to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God.’
10 But by the grace of God I am what I am.’
The resurrection not only restored my dignity but promotes my dignity.
Look at the pronoun used the verses 22-23, “those who have fallen asleep” and “those who belong to Him.”
III. Protects against despair
Verse 19 says that without the resurrection we should be pitied more than all men. Then in verse 32, we read that without the resurrection we should just “eat, drink, and die.” But Jesus is alive and protects against a life of despair and selfish indulgence. The resurrection communicates a higher purpose.
IV. Prepares our future
Verse twenty-four declares “the end will come.”
Jesus declared that He was going away to prepare a place for His followers (John 14:1-6), and He promised that He would return. The end is coming when all will stand before the judgment seat of Christ. Those who have received Christ’s offer of eternal life will be “made alive” as proclaimed in verse 22, but those who reject Christ will experience at the White Throne Judgment, an eternal death of torment in hell. The Bible calls this punishment the “second death” (Rev. 21:8).
Conclusion
I should say that for all of us, our lives have been like a cross. We are human, not superman, not god. We are often powerless against all things whatsoever. Our dignity as a person is often destroyed by ourselves or by others. Poverty, sicknesses, circumstances and sin destroyed our dignity. We are often in despair, like what Paul testified: ‘At time we were completely overwhelmed, the burden was more than we could bear, in fact we told ourselves that this was the end.’ We see no hope of a future. God understood what we went through and sent Jesus, the second man, who was tempted in all points like we are, yet without sin. His life was not only like a cross. He went to the cross. He was weak like we are and prayed with trembling. He had no dignity left when he was stripped naked at the cross. Yet he obediently went to the cross, so that, when he was resurrected, our lives will not be just a cross, but it will be a resurrection. He went to the cross so that we will no more be powerless against poverty, sicknesses, circumstances and sin and all things whatsoever. We do not have to despair of life because, he is with us at all times and the right hand of God available to bring us out of any despair. The resurrection made possible a joyful future for us all. So Christ is risen indeed. What are you going with do with him. Receive Him as your personal savior.
