Christ is risen! That makes all the difference.
Christ died for our sins, just as the Scriptures said. He was buried, and He was raised from the dead on the third day, just as the Scriptures said, 1 Corinthians 15:3-4. The Bible reports He was seen by the disciples, and by more than 500 of His followers.
It was early Sunday morning. The women went to the grave. They didn’t expect anything to have changed. But everything had. An earthquake rolled the stone away (Matthew 28:2). The body was not there. They were perplexed. They were terrified. (Luke 24:5) The angel said, why are you looking among the dead for the living? (Luke 24:5).
At the time Paul the Apostle wrote to the Corinthians about the resurrection, most of those 500 witnesses were still alive. They could testify to the facts of Jesus’ resurrection.
The disciples were changed after the resurrection. When Jesus walked with them, they often misunderstood what He said. After Jesus was crucified, they hid in a locked room, fearful. After Jesus’ resurrection, everything made sense. They spent the rest of their lives boldly telling everyone what Jesus had taught them, even when it was dangerous to do so.
Jesus lived. Fully God, and fully man, He walked the earth. He lived the human experience, gaining full understanding of human weakness (Hebrews 4:15). He lived a perfect, sinless life, then He died. He was unjustly killed, by crucifixion. Yet He laid down His life. No one took it from Him. He could have saved Himself from this cruel, unjust death. Yet He did not. He suffered death for our sake. He died the death we deserve for our sin. Jesus is our substitute. He took on the weight of our sin and absorbed the punishment for it, so we wouldn’t have to.
He died for our sins, was buried, and rose again from the dead–just as the Scriptures said. Jesus resurrection confirms the truth of the Bible. Long before Jesus was born into this world, the Bible foretold He would come. All the Old Testament Scriptures point to Jesus. All the fulfilled prophecies about Him verify we can trust the Bible and believe the yet-to-be fulfilled prophecies will happen as promised.
When Jesus rose from the dead, He proved He is who He said He is. He is God. He came to earth in the flesh. He has shown us what God is like. While He walked the earth with His disciples, He told them on several occasions He would be killed and He would rise again. He rose just as He said. He is our confidence and our peace. He is coming back. He will do what he said He will do.
The grave is empty. When Jesus rose from the dead, He took the sting out of death for us. We don’t have to fear death. He has shown us that life continues. Those who put their hope in Jesus will live, even though their bodies die (John 11:25-26). Eternal life is knowing God the Father–the only true God–and Jesus Christ who He sent to earth (John 17:3). Eternal life begins now when we turn to Him in faith, and extends though all eternity.
Because He rose again, and returned to heaven, He sent His Holy Spirit to enable us to live for Him. The same power that raised Jesus from the dead is at work in us.
Christ is risen! That makes all the difference.
I also pray that you will understand the incredible greatness of God’s power for us who believe him. This is the same mighty power that raised Christ from the dead and seated him in the place of honor at God’s right hand in the heavenly realms. Ephesians 1:19-20 NLT
Christ is risen! How does that make a difference to you? Please leave a comment below.
Blessings,
Phyllis
Copyright 2025 Phyllis L. Farringer
Image by Arnie Bragg from Pixabay
As the hymn says, “And life is worth the living just because He lives!” So true.
Without the risen Christ whose Spirit dwells in me, I would not be here.
Without Him, there is no reason.
With Him, there is EVERY reason!
Amen! Thank you, Nora.