Nathan Peeler
Contributor
The death, burial and resurrection of Jesus are foundational in the teaching of Christianity (1 Cor 15:3-4). Jesus was a historical person, and a record of events of his life can be found in the New Testament and other ancient historical records. The resurrection is not simply something to reflect on a yearly or even weekly basis but has practical implications for your daily life. The resurrection gives us hope, calls us to be generous and calls us to prepare for the final judgment.
First, the resurrection gives us hope. In Luke 24:13-35, the story is recorded of two followers walking the seven miles from Jerusalem to Emmaus. The two disciples express their sorrow over the death of Jesus: “But we were hoping that it was He who was going to redeem Israel” (Luke 24:21).” Little did these two know, the stranger who had recently joined them on the road was the resurrected Jesus! After a short time, they recognized Him and their sorrow was replaced with hope and joy.
Jesus is clear that those who follow Him will not always have easy lives (John 15:18-16:4). He instructs us to pick up our cross and follow Him (Matthew 10:38; 16:24-28). The original audience Jesus spoke to knew that those who carried their crosses were going to their death. The world hates those who follow Jesus and might even kill Christians for following Him. Jesus tells us that in the world we will have tribulation but not to fear because He has overcome the world (Jonn 16:33). Yet, despite all the difficulties and hardships we might face in this life, Christians have confidence that God sees and will act to correct all the injustices and evil in the final day. The world is filled with turmoil and division, but God provides a hope that will not disappoint (Romans 5:3-5; 9:33; 12:12). We might have difficulty now, but it will be replaced with joy, just as it was with the two disciples in Luke 24.
Second, the resurrection calls us to be generous. In Acts 4:32-37, the early church is pictured as unified and generous. There is one man named Joseph, who is commonly known as Barnabas, who sells his land and donates the proceeds of the sale to help needy Christians. This generosity is sparked by the apostles' continuous teaching on the resurrection (Acts 4:33). Jesus urges us to store our treasure in Heaven, where it can never be taken away from us (Matthew 6:19-24). He informs His followers that those who are generous to those in need will be repaid at the resurrection (Luke 14:12-14). Jesus had prepared a place for us (John 14:1-6), and it is better than anything that we can imagine (1 Corinthians 2:9). Any earthly treasure which we can accumulate pales in comparison with the heavenly treasure that awaits us Christians. The resurrection motivates us to look out and help those who are in need.
Finally, the resurrection is proof that a judgement will occur. When Paul was in Athens, he says this: “Therefore having overlooked the times of ignorance, God is now declaring to men that all people everywhere should repent, because He has fixed a day in which He will judge the world in righteousness through a Man whom He has appointed, having furnished proof to all men by raising Him from the dead” (Acts 17:30-31).
The resurrection is a historical fact, but it is a daily reminder that we will give an account for the way we live our lives. There is a day coming in which we will all stand before our Creator and give an account. All of us have fallen short of God’s standard, but He had made a way through His Son to provide grace and mercy. We can be washed in the blood of the Lamb (through baptism) and walk with Him in this life, so we can enjoy eternity with Him in the next one. The resurrection has a big impact on this life and the next.