Why is it necessary for God to give us evidence of the resurrection of Jesus Christ as recorded in the New Testament? What significance does it have for us? The resurrection is one of the major evidences that Jesus Christ is the Son of God (Romans 1:1-4). The resurrection declares to us and the world that Jesus Christ IS ALIVE (Revelation 1:17-18). The resurrection is proof that God has accepted Jesus as a sacrifice for our deliverance! (Romans 8: 31-34). The resurrection is assurance that we can have been justified to God (Romans 4:20-25). And of course Jesus’ resurrection proves that physical death is not the termination of our existence (1 Corinthians 15:20-23)
“He is not here; for He is risen as He said, Come, see the place where the Lord lay. And go quickly and tell His disciples that He is risen from the dead, and indeed He is going before you into Galilee; there you will see Him. Behold, I have told you. – (Matthew 28:6-7), In this verse we can see three imperatives of the resurrection today…..
1. “Come, see” – The resurrection urges investigation and verification – weighing the overwhelming evidence that is given to us in His Scriptures
- Paul told us that the resurrected Christ was physically seen by more than 514 eye-witnesses
- The blood of martyrs speaks eloquently of the reality of the empty tomb — Christ has indeed risen!
- Again let’s read – (Matthew 28:6) (1 Corinthians 15:20-23)
- Is there any doubt in you that Christ is not – or has not risen from the grave?
- If there is I invite you to run to God and His word and find out if it is real or not
2. “Go” – The resurrected Christ places us under an obligation to go into the world with the news of His resurrection – (Matthew 28:19-20)
- The empty tomb still demands that the believer takes the saving gospel of Christ to a world lost and dead in sin – we must be willing to “Go” – How about you? Are you willing? Have you started?
- We are not to rest on our laurels – or what we have done in the past – but we are to go everywhere preaching the word – (Acts 5:42) (Acts 8:4)
3. “Tell” – The resurrection demands proclamation! It is not a secret to be kept or knowledge to be hoarded
- It is “good news” to be shared with the world – (Acts 13:32-33)
- The “good news” that Jesus is risen! Men are in need of a Savior
- Jesus is that Savior – (1 John 4:14)
- “The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world! – (John 1:29)
- Every day in word and deed – we must do our best to proclaim the living Savior to a dead world lost in sin – (Matthew 5:13-16)