For while we were still weak, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly.  Indeed, rarely will anyone die for a righteous person – though perhaps for a good person someone might actually dare to die.  But God proves his love for us in that while we still were sinners Christ died for us.  Much more surely then, now that we have been justified by his blood, will we be saved through him from the wrath of God.  For if while we were enemies, we were reconciled to God through the death of his Son, much more surely, having been reconciled, will we be saved by his life.  But more than that, we even boast in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received reconciliation.  Romans 5:6-11

 Each Easter we celebrate the most important event in human history.  Through Adam and Eve, humanity was separated from God.  At the perfect time, God came to earth as a man and surrendered Himself to die on a cross so that we might gain life.  Through His death and resurrection, Christ Jesus constructs a bridge spanning the chasm separating us from God.  Through Christ Jesus we are cleansed, reconciled with God, released from captivity, given new life.  

God’s holy word presents each human as part physical and part spiritual, comprised of spirit, soul and body.  So long as our spirit, soul and body are united, we have physical life, and so long as our spirit is united with God, we have spiritual life.  While each human is born with physical life, we are each born spiritually dead.  We exist in a state of spiritual death until united with God, and according to God’s holy word, through His death and resurrection, Christ Jesus is the only means of God’s holy grace through which humans may be justified, saved, reconciled, connected with God, born spiritually.  

How important is Jesus’ death and resurrection?  Before Adam and Eve ate forbidden fruit, they communed freely with God.  They interacted with God similarly to the way we interact with other people.  After their horrific choice, they and every person after them were separated from God.  We were created by God in His holy image.  We were designed and crafted to commune with Him.  Apart from Him, something huge is missing from our being, a void exists that only God is capable of satisfying.  Because of His death and resurrection, through Jesus, everyone has the opportunity to be reconciled with God.

How important is Jesus’ death and resurrection?  It is a matter of life and death.  Apart from God we are spiritually dead. We gain spiritual life through communion with God, which is only available through Christ Jesus.  

Paul explains that the resurrection is the foundation of our faith.  If Jesus was not resurrected, our faith would be futile, and we would liars about God because we testify that He did indeed raise Christ Jesus from death (see 1 Corinthians 15:15-17).  But we know He was actually resurrected.  Paul refers to eyewitness accounts in support of His explanation that Jesus was resurrected saying,

For I handed on to you as of first importance what I in turn had received: that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the scriptures, and that he was buried, and that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the scriptures, and that he appeared to Cephas, then to the twelve.  Then he appeared to more than five hundred brothers and sisters at one time, most of whom are still alive, though some have died.  Then he appeared to James, then to all the apostles.  Last of all, as to one untimely born, he appeared also to me. 1 Corinthians 15:3-8

It is significant that most of the 500 eyewitnesses were still alive when Paul wrote the claim, because the claim was subject to verification.  

John was one of the disciples who spent time with post-Easter Jesus during the 40 days between the first Easter and Jesus’ ascension to heaven.  Later, while praying in a cave on the island Patmos, John was blessed with a heavenly vision.  John saw Jesus in His full heavenly glory.  A portion of His description follows:

When I saw him, I fell at his feet as though dead. But he placed his right hand on me, saying, “Do not be afraid; I am the first and the last,  and the living one. I was dead, and see, I am alive forever and ever; and I have the keys of Death and of Hades.  Revelation 1:17-18

John interacted with post-Easter Jesus before He ascended to heaven, and he interacted with Jesus in His full heavenly glory through the vision recorded as Revelation.  Through eyewitness encounters we know Jesus was resurrected and through God’s holy word we know Jesus is the resurrection.  If Jesus was not resurrected, our faith would be futile, and we would be liars about God.  But He was resurrected, He is the resurrection, our faith is not in vain, and through Christ Jesus new life is available to everyone (see 1 Corinthians 15:20-22).  

God loves everyone in the world.  Through Christ He offers new life to everyone.  “For God so loved the world that he gave is only Son, so that everyone who believes in him may not perish but may have eternal life” (John 3:16).  

On Easter we celebrate the most important event in human history.  May you receive His holy gift of grace, may you know Christ Jesus, may you know God, may you engage in intimate relationship with Him, may you know His joy. Amen.