This past weekend Christians celebrated the resurrection of Jesus. His resurrection from the dead is the hinge pin of the integrity of our Christian faith.
As the Apostle Paul wrote in 1 Corinthians 15, if the resurrection is not true, then we are without hope. If the resurrection is not true, then we are still trapped in our sin. If the resurrection is not true, then Christians are “to be pitied more than anyone else in this world.”
Everything changed on Easter. Before Easter, Jesus could be called Jesus of Nazareth, rabi, or prophet. However, his resurrection means he is no longer simply a rabbi, teacher or prophet from Nazareth, now he is Jesus the Christ, the Messiah!
People have doubted, debated and attempted to debunk Jesus’ resurrection ever since, well, the first Easter morning. Once such person is Lee Strobel. Lee graduated from Yale Law School, served as legal editor for the Chicago Tribune, and was a self-acknowledged spiritual skeptic. He focused his intellectual energy and critical thinking into debunking the resurrection. However, he ultimately convinced himself that Jesus’ resurrection did happen and therefore opened the door for a new commitment of faith with very practical implications.
After examining the evidence for the resurrection, he writes in his book “The Case for Easter:”
“I concluded that he really is the one and only Son of God, who proved it by rising from the dead. As soon as I reached that monumental verdict, the implications were obvious:
He (Jesus) really is the one and only Son of God, who proved it by rising from the dead.
If Jesus overcame the grave, he’s still alive and available for me to have a personal encounter.
If Jesus conquered death, he can open the door for eternal life for me too.
If he has divine power, he has the supernatural ability to guide and transform me as I follow him.
As my Creator who has my best interest at heart, he rightfully deserves my allegiance and worship.
There is nothing theoretical, metaphorical or symbolic about Easter and the celebration of Jesus the Christ’s resurrection from the dead. If it is true, it requires a response. If it is not true, well, Christian faith is a pitiful pile of stories and platitudes.
What do you believe, and what are you going to do about it?
If you have questions, I would be most pleased to visit with you, hear your story and welcome your questions and doubts. After all, this is exactly what Jesus did, and I find him to be a reliable example because he promised he would conquer death, and he did.
Happy Easter Indeed!
• The Rev. Tim Harrison is the senior pastor at Chapel by the Lake. “Living and Growing” is a weekly column written by different authors and submitted by local clergy and spiritual leaders. It appears every Saturday on the Juneau Empire’s Faith page.
