Seismic Significance

“That Jesus succeeded in changing a snuffling band of unreliable followers into fearless evangelists, that eleven men who had deserted him at death now went to martyr’s graves avowing their faith in a resurrected Christ, that these few witnesses managed to set loose a force that would overcome violent opposition first in Jerusalem and then in Rome – this remarkable sequence of transformation offers the most convincing evidence of the Resurrection. What else explains the whiplash change in men known for their cowardice and instability?…Something had happened, something beyond all precedent. Surely the disciples would not lay down their lives for the sake of a cobbled-together conspiracy theory. Surely it would have been easier, and more natural, to honour a dead Jesus as one of the martyr-prophets whose tombs were so venerated by the Jews. One need only read the Gospel’s descriptions of the disciples huddling behind locked doors and then proceed to the descriptions in Acts of the same men proclaiming Christ openly in the streets and in jail cells to perceive the seismic significance of what took place on Easter Sunday” (Philip Yancey).

The resurrection of Christ certainly is something of “seismic significance.” That is the point that the apostle Paul makes in 1 Corinthians 15. Without it, gospel preaching and faith are useless (15:14). Without it, the apostles were liars (15:15). Without it, we remain unforgiven (15:17). Without it, disciples who have died have eternally perished (15:19). Not only was the death of Christ necessary but also His resurrection. “The bodily resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead is the crowning proof of Christianity. If the resurrection did not take place, then Christianity is a false religion. If it did take place, then Christ is God and the Christian faith is absolute truth” (Henry Morris).

“The life of our Lord is marked by the virgin's womb, and the empty tomb. He came into the world through a door marked “No Entrance" and left through one marked "No Exit!” (source unknown).

God loves you!

Mike