By Jim Mettenbrink
Every religion, except one depends upon what someone says. In stark, yea most stark, contrast, Christianity rests solely upon what one person did – Jesus of Nazareth rose from the dead, following three years claiming that He is God, the promised Messiah sent to mankind, and the guarantor of eternal life to those who submit to Him according to the New Testament. Rise from the dead? Preposterous!, many will screech. Regarding anyone rising from the dead, the apostle Paul wrote, “… we are found false witnesses of God, because we have testified of God that He raised up Christ, whom He did not raise up—if in fact the dead do not rise” (1Corinthians 15:15). Paul ended that segment with, “If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men the most pitiable” (v19).
Paul opened that chapter stating that the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus is the gospel – good news. Indeed, if Jesus is all that He claimed, then there is no better news than His resurrection, implicitly the most important event that has or ever will happen on earth… except for the final day when He ends our messed up world and takes His faithful to heaven forever. The question “Was Jesus’ resurrection credible?” is answered in his testimony.
In the last article, we considered that Mary Magdalene, a loyal disciple was the first to see and speak to Jesus after He rose (John 20:11-18). Paul’s declaration, written some 20 years later, stated, “He was seen by Cephas, then by the twelve. After that, He was seen by over five hundred brethren at once, of whom the greater part remain to the present, but some have fallen asleep. After that He was seen by James, then by all the apostles” (1Cor 15:5-7). That over 500 saw Jesus at the same time and that over 250 are still alive is impossible to refute. Paul was essentially saying, if you do not believe me go talk to them. Witness testimony!
Jesus’ resurrection is the most important event in our realm. That highlights the most important moment in your life – the moment you die. Ultimately, your relationship with Jesus is all that matters. You cannot feel or hope to have the all-important relationship with Jesus, let alone eternal life, but can know for sure by studying the New Testament – “These things I have written to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, so that you may know that you have eternal life.” (1 John 5:13).