What’s The Big Deal?

Although followers of the Lord Jesus Christ have for centuries made a big deal of the resurrection of Jesus Christ, and rightly so for a variety of reasons, today it seems Christians are rather mediocre in the zeal of affirming this basic truth of the Gospel. When you see the influence of the world in emphasizing renewal of life in spring flowers and the emphasis on fertilization as seen in eggs and rabbits over the truth that the One who died for our sins is risen from the dead, there is a missing out on the truth of the resurrection as a declaration that His sacrifice was accepted and He is declared to be the Son of God and thereby the One who will judge the world in righteousness, so that this is not only a big deal, it’s a pivotal point of history.

1 Corinthians 15:1–7 (ESV) — 1 Now I would remind you, brothers, of the gospel I preached to you, which you received, in which you stand, 2 and by which you are being saved, if you hold fast to the word I preached to you—unless you believed in vain. 3 For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received: that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures, 4 that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures, 5 and that he appeared to Cephas, then to the twelve. 6 Then he appeared to more than five hundred brothers at one time, most of whom are still alive, though some have fallen asleep. 7 Then he appeared to James, then to all the apostles.

Notice the importance of the resurrection to the basics of the Gospel. Without the resurrection you have no Gospel, and everything about Christianity is a lie and there is no hope of life beyond the grave or of being made right before God.

Stop The Music

Matthew 28:1–7 (ESV) — 1 Now after the Sabbath, toward the dawn of the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to see the tomb. 2 And behold, there was a great earthquake, for an angel of the Lord descended from heaven and came and rolled back the stone and sat on it. 3 His appearance was like lightning, and his clothing white as snow. 4 And for fear of him the guards trembled and became like dead men. 5 But the angel said to the women, “Do not be afraid, for I know that you seek Jesus who was crucified. 6 He is not here, for he has risen, as he said. Come, see the place where he lay. 7 Then go quickly and tell his disciples that he has risen from the dead, and behold, he is going before you to Galilee; there you will see him. See, I have told you.”

The women were not expecting a resurrection, they were approaching the grave to bring additional spices to cover the odor of decomposition. What a shock they experienced when the grave was open, and the announcement made of Jesus’ resurrection.

John 20:19–21 (ESV) — 19 On the evening of that day, the first day of the week, the doors being locked where the disciples were for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood among them and said to them, “Peace be with you.” 20 When he had said this, he showed them his hands and his side. Then the disciples were glad when they saw the Lord. 21 Jesus said to them again, “Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, even so I am sending you.”

The disciples were not expecting a resurrection, although Jesus had taught them many times of the things which were to take place, namely His death and His resurrection. What a shock when Jesus showed up as they met together behind closed doors. Please take note of the fact that they were behind closed doors for fear of the Jewish leaders. Then move ahead to the book of Acts and see a plethora of examples of their boldness to give witness to the resurrection. What a ridiculous charge that was made by the Jewish leaders as they paid off the guards to say that Jesus’ disciples came by night to take His body so they could declare Him alive.

Matthew 28:11–15 (ESV) — 11 While they were going, behold, some of the guard went into the city and told the chief priests all that had taken place. 12 And when they had assembled with the elders and taken counsel, they gave a sufficient sum of money to the soldiers 13 and said, “Tell people, ‘His disciples came by night and stole him away while we were asleep.’ 14 And if this comes to the governor’s ears, we will satisfy him and keep you out of trouble.” 15 So they took the money and did as they were directed. And this story has been spread among the Jews to this day.

What’s the big deal? Jesus is alive and resurrected from the dead! As a result, He is declared to be the Son Of God, the one and only Savior of sinners, God’s appointed King, and God’s appointed judge who will judge the world in righteousness.

Romans 1:3–4 (ESV) — 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,

Acts 17:31 (ESV) — 31 because he has fixed a day on which he will judge the world in righteousness by a man whom he has appointed; and of this he has given assurance to all by raising him from the dead.”

The only way of salvation is calling upon Him, confessing Him as Lord, and believing that He is alive by following all that He said in submission to Him. He is the remedy for our sins. New life is found in Him, and He is our hope for this life and the life to come. This is the big deal. Don’t miss it.

Godspeed,

Bob Brubaker