An Early Look at Easter

Because He lives, you and I can live! Job asked, “If a man die, shall he live again?” Easter answers Job’s question.

The resurrection of Christ is the core of our faith. The Apostle Paul stated: “That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation” (Romans 10:9,10). Jesus said: “And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man be lifted up: That whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life” (John 3:14-15).

The resurrection of Christ is foundational. It is the cornerstone of Christianity. Just as our heart pumps blood to every organ in our body, the resurrection of Jesus Christ is the heart of the Gospel that pumps life to every doctrinal truth. It is central! In the New Testament alone, it is referred to 104 times. Peter’s first message at Pentecost that led to a great revival was founded and built around the truth of the resurrection.

I Corinthians 15:12-19 reveals that everything stands or falls with Christ’s bodily resurrection. If Christ did not conquer death by rising from the tomb, we would all be false witnesses still dead in our trespasses and sins.

I Corinthians 15:17- “And if Christ be not raised, your faith is vain (worthless); ye are yet in your sins.”
Acts 4:33- “And with great power gave the apostles witness of the resurrection of the Lord Jesus: and great grace was upon them all.”
Matthew 12:40- “For as Jonas was three days and three nights in the whale’s belly; so shall the Son of man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth.”
I Corinthians 15:3-4- “For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures.”

The proclamation of Christ’s resurrection was the very heart and theme of the early church. The fact that He arose was the motivation behind every suffering and sacrificial endeavor for Christ. The resurrection of Jesus Christ is the fundamental doctrine of Christianity. The following passages reveal it is clearly an essential part of the Gospel.

1)Anticipated and announced in the Old and New Testament

•Psalm 118:22-24

“The stone which the builders refused is become the head stone of the corner. This is the LORD’S doing; it is marvelous in our eyes. This is the day which the LORD hath made; we will rejoice and be glad in it.”

•Isaiah 52:13; 53:10-12 (Isaiah spoke of a future day of redemption)
•Jonah 2:1-9 (Jonah is a type of Christ- Matthew 12:39-41)
•Matthew 16:21; 17:23; 20:17-19 (Jesus regularly referred to this before His disciples)
•John 2:22 (The disciples finally remembered after it was a fact)
•Acts 13:33
•Matthew 27:63-64 (The enemies of Jesus remembered)

2)Post-resurrection witnesses

•1st appearance- Mary Magdalene (Mark 16:9-11)
•2nd appearance- Other women (Matthew 28:8-10)
•3rd appearance- Peter (I Corinthians 15:5)
•4th appearance- Two men on the road to Emmaus (Luke 24:13-32)
•5th appearance (Sunday evening)- 10 Apostles in the Upper Room without Thomas (John 20:19-25; Luke 24:36-43)
•6th appearance (The following Sunday)- 11 Apostles and Thomas believes (John 20:26-28)
•7th appearance- 7 disciples by the Sea of Galilee (John 21:1-14)
•8th appearance- 500 at a mountain in Galilee (Matthew 28:16-20; I Corinthians 15:6)
•9th appearance- Half-brother James (I Corinthians 15:7)
•10 appearance- The disciples again in Jerusalem (Acts 1:3-8; Luke 24:44-49)

3)Christ’s Ascension to Heaven

•Acts 1:11
“Which also said, Ye men of Galilee, why stand ye gazing up into heaven? this same Jesus, which is taken up from you into heaven, shall so come in like manner as ye have seen him go into heaven.”

•Mark 16:1-20
•Luke 24:50-53