Resurrection Story

The Resurrection Story of Jesus Christ is the very heart and soul of our faith! It’s the single most crucial event in all of human history, the bedrock upon which our hope for eternal life is built! And today, as we gather together in our churches, synagogues, temples, and cathedrals to worship our Lord and Savior, we’re going to delve deep into the Gospel accounts of this incredible moment, and witness firsthand the immense power of God that shook the very foundations of the earth! The ground quaked and the rocks split asunder, testifying to the overwhelming might of our Creator, as Jesus breathed His last breath and gave up His life as a sacrifice for our sins. And as if that wasn’t enough, graves were opened, and countless saints who had been sleeping in death for ages past rose up, alive and whole once again! All of this was made possible by the tremendous power of God and the unfathomable love that He has for each and every one of us.

Romans 6:23 says, “For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.” The Bible teaches us that the penalty of sin is death. It is the inevitable outcome of a life of rebellion against God. But God, in His infinite mercy and grace, provided a way for us to escape the punishment we deserve. He sent His only Son, Jesus Christ, to die in our place, to take the punishment for our sins upon Himself.

Let us begin by reading Matthew 27:50: “Jesus, when he had cried again with a loud voice, yielded up the ghost.” When Jesus died on the cross, He paid the price for our sins in full. Verse 51 says, “And, behold, the veil of the temple was rent in twain (two pieces) from the top to the bottom.” Jesus became the ultimate sacrifice, and removed the separation between God and is by renting the veil in the temple, signifying that the way to God’s presence was now open to all who would come to Him in faith. No longer did we need to rely on earthly priests to intercede on our behalf, as it gave us direct access to the Father through Jesus Christ. We could come boldly to the throne of grace, knowing that Jesus had made a way for us to approach God with confidence.

Verse 51 goes on to say, “and the earth did quake, and the rocks rent.” The earth trembled at the death of her creator and the shear force of the power of God split the earth.

But that was not the end of the story. Three days after Jesus was buried, something miraculous happened. The saints who were dead came back to life and rose up after Jesus was resurrected, a foreshadowing of the resurrection that is to come. Matthew 27:52-53 says, “And the graves were opened; and many bodies of the saints which slept arose, And came out of the graves after his resurrection, and went into the holy city, and appeared unto many.” This event underscores the power and significance of the resurrection. It was not just a symbolic victory over death; it was a literal defeat of death’s power over humanity.

Matthew 27:54 says, “Now when the centurion, and they that were with him, watching Jesus, saw the earthquake, and those things that were done, they feared greatly, saying, Truly this was the Son of God.” This verse confirms that even those who witnessed the crucifixion and resurrection of Jesus could not deny the power and divinity of our Lord. The centurion and his soldiers, who had been tasked with carrying out the execution, were overcome with fear and declared that Jesus was indeed the Son of God.

But that was not all. In Matthew 28:1-10, it says, “In the end of the sabbath, as it began to dawn toward the first day of the week, came Mary Magdalene and the other Mary to see the sepulchre. And, behold, there was a great earthquake: for the angel of the Lord descended from heaven, and came and rolled back the stone from the door, and sat upon it. His countenance was like lightning, and his raiment white as snow: And for fear of him the keepers did shake, and became as dead men. And the angel answered and said unto the women, Fear not ye: for I know that ye seek Jesus, which was crucified. 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, behold, he goeth before you into Galilee; there shall ye see him: lo, I have told you. And they departed quickly from the sepulchre with fear and great joy; and did run to bring his disciples word. And as they went to tell his disciples, behold, Jesus met them, saying, All hail. And they came and held him by the feet, and worshipped him. Then said Jesus unto them, Be not afraid: go tell my brethren that they go into Galilee, and there shall they see me.”

We see that the resurrection of Jesus had a profound impact on the lives of countless individuals. The women who came to the tomb early on the first day of the week found that the stone had been rolled away, and that the tomb was empty. They were met by an angel who told them that Jesus had risen from the dead. This news was so incredible that the women were filled with both fear and great joy. They ran to tell the disciples, who themselves were struggling to believe that Jesus had actually risen from the dead.

After Jesus’ resurrection, He appeared to many people to show that He was alive. One of His first appearances was to Mary Magdalene, who had gone to His tomb on the third day after His crucifixion. When she arrived, she found the stone rolled away and the tomb empty. As she wept outside the tomb, Jesus appeared to her and said, “Woman, why weepest thou? whom seekest thou?” (John 20:15). Mary, recognizing Jesus, exclaimed “Rabboni,” which means Master or Teacher in Hebrew (John 20:16).

Jesus also appeared to the disciples on multiple occasions, including one where He showed Thomas His wounds, convincing him that He had truly risen from the dead (John 20:26-29). He also appeared to two disciples on the road to Emmaus, and while they did not recognize Him at first, He revealed Himself to them as they ate together (Luke 24:13-31).

Later, Jesus appeared to His disciples while they were fishing in the Sea of Galilee. After they had caught nothing all night, Jesus told them to cast their net on the right side of the boat, and they caught so many fish they could hardly haul them in. When they came to shore, Jesus cooked breakfast for them and they ate together (John 21:1-14).

Finally, Jesus appeared to a large group of over 500 people, who saw Him and heard Him speak (1 Corinthians 15:6). As well as several others after the Day of Pentecost. These appearances of Jesus after His resurrection serve as a powerful testimony to His power and victory over death, the truth of His teachings, and His infinite love for us..

The Resurrection of Jesus Christ is a reminder that Jesus was not just a mere man, but the fleshly incarnation of God, with power over life and death. By forgiveness for our sins and through faith in Him, we have the gift of eternal life. It is through Jesus that we have direct access to God’s presence. The significance of the Resurrection cannot be overstated, as it is the foundation of our faith and the source of our hope.

The Resurrection is a message of hope and salvation that we must share with the world. It is a testament to the power of God, a reminder that He is always with us even in our darkest moments. Through the death and Resurrection of Jesus and forgiveness for our sins, we can have peace knowing that our sins have been forgiven, and we have been given the gift of eternal life. As Romans 6:23 says, “For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.”

Today, as we reflect on the incredible sacrifice that Jesus made for us, let us remember the awesome power of God that was demonstrated through the Resurrection! Let us never forget the significance of this event and always hold fast to the hope that it brings. The death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ is the most important event in human history, and we must always give Him the praise and glory He deserves.