Part 2: The Resurrection
The Easter season reminds us that B.E.A.U.T.Y. is made a possibility for us because of two very significant events in history.
The second event which impacted forever the history of mankind is the Resurrection of Jesus Christ. The significance of this event is captured well in this quote: “All that distinguishes Christianity; and makes it worth believing, or mighty, is inseparably connected with the Resurrection.” [MacLaren’s Expositions Rom. 1:4]
The Resurrection is TRUTH:
After Jesus rose from the dead, He appeared to people who had known him for years before He was crucified. (1 Corinthians 15:3-7 tells us who these people were.) It was these individuals who were to be His witnesses of the fact that He did indeed rise up from the grave; that the Resurrection of Jesus was true.
The quotes and scriptures below give us insight into the providence of Christ securing the witness of His resurrection for us. The certainty of Jesus Christ’s Resurrection from the dead establishes the truth of Christianity, and because He rose, we can now be certain that all He said is also true.
“God raised Jesus from the dead, and we are all witnesses of this.” Acts 2:32
“...but (you) put to death the Prince of life, whom God raised from the dead, a fact to which we are witnesses.” Acts 3:15
“This Jesus hath God raised up . . .From the first the Apostles take up the position which their Lord had assigned them. They are witnesses, and before and above all else, witnesses of the Resurrection.” (Ellicott's commentary)
“The resurrection of the Lord Jesus - This was the main point to be established. If it proved that the Lord Jesus came to life again after having been put to death, it established all that He taught, and was a demonstration that He was sent from God. They exerted, therefore, all their powers to prove this, and their success was such as might have been expected. Multitudes were converted to the Christian faith." (Barnes' Notes on the Bible)
"It was one of their chief functions as apostles to bear witness to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus: The resurrection of Christ from the dead thus appears to be a cardinal doctrine of the gospel. The whole truth of Christ's mission, the acceptance of his sacrifice, the consequent forgiveness of sins, and all man's hopes of eternal life, turn upon it. All the sermons of the apostles recorded in the Acts and the Epistles also agree with this." (Pulpit commentary)
The Resurrection brings HOPE:
The apostles, most specifically Peter and Paul, write about the Resurrection of Jesus Christ as also being the source of power to be born again and the power to live in His promises.
The scriptures and quotes below give us insight into this living hope we now have because of the Resurrection of Jesus.
“Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In His great mercy He has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead.“ 1 Peter 1:3 (NLB)
“I am (the resurrected) Jesus. I have appeared to you for this purpose, to make you a minister and a witness…to open the eyes (of the Gentiles) to turn them from the power of Satan unto God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins and an inheritance…” Acts 26:15-18
"(I am) Paul, a servant of Jesus Christ, called to be an apostle…concerning His Son Jesus Christ our Lord…declared to be the Son of God with power…by the resurrection from the dead by whom we received grace…" Romans 1:1-5
“But the hope of the sons of the living God is a living hope; not only as to its object, but as to its effect also. It enlivens and comforts in all distresses, enables to meet and get over all difficulties. Mercy is the spring of all this; yea, great mercy and manifold mercy.” (Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary)
“The resurrection of the Lord Jesus is the foundation of our hope. It was a confirmation of what he declared as truth when He lived; it was a proof of the doctrine of the immortality of the soul…”(Barnes' Notes on the Bible)
“God according to His great mercy begat us again into a new life, and one important aspect of that new life is hope, the hope of ever-deepening fellowship with God now, of everlasting life with God in heaven. That hope is living; it is "pervaded with life, carrying with it in undying power the certainty of fulfillment (Romans 5:5), and making the heart joyful and happy." (Huther); "it has life in itself, and gives life, and has life as its object." (De Wette).
"The great thing the apostles were to attest to the world was Christ's resurrection; for that was the great proof of His being the Messiah, and the foundation of our hope in Him. The apostles were ordained, not to wordly dignity and dominion, but to preach Christ, and the power of His resurrection." (Matthew Henry’s concise commentary)
In summary, Truth and Hope can only be found in the Word which is living and powerful and experientially made available by and through the Resurrection of Jesus. It is that which makes B.E.A.U.T.Y. attainable and beautiful.
Let us all be witnesses that Jesus has risen, indeed!
Photo by Bruno van der Kraan @brunovdkraan via Unsplash