Dan Eakin/Contributing writer
In just a few weeks, on April 17, we will be celebrating Easter Sunday. Many Christians refer to this as “Resurrection Sunday” because it is a day in which we especially celebrate the resurrection of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
Over the years, ministers and others have placed a lot of emphasis on the fact that Christ died for our sins.
And rightly so. Had Christ not been “the Lamb of God which taketh away the sin of the world,” (John 1:29) we would have no Savior.
“Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things as silver and gold,….but with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot.” I Peter 1:18,19.
However, it is also a fact that if Christ had not risen from the dead, we would have no Savior.
In the book of Acts, it was the message of the resurrection that turned many hearts to God. In Acts 2, Peter stood before the crowd, which may have included some of the people in another crowd a few weeks earlier who were crying “Crucify him! Crucify him!” Peter told the crowd, possibly pointing a long finger, and shouting, “Ye men of Israel, hear these words. Jesus Christ of Nazareth, a man approved of God among you by miracles, wonders and signs, ye have taken and by wicked hands hath crucified and slain.” (Acts 2:22).
But it was what he said in Acts 2:23 that may have been what caused them to be pricked in their hearts and say, “Men and brethren, what shall we do?” That verse begins by saying, “Whom God hath raised up.”
It was the message of the resurrection in Acts that drew thousands of people to Christ. Even in Acts 3, after God has healed the lame man through Peter and John, Peter told the crowd that had gathered around, “But ye denied the Holy One and the Just, and desired a murderer to be granted unto you: and killed the Prince of life, whom God hath raised from the dead.” Acts 3:14-15.
Acts 4:1-4: And as they spake unto the people, the priests and the captain of the temple, and the Sadducees, came upon them, being grieved that they taught the people, and preached through Jesus the resurrection of the dead…..Howbeit many of them which heard the word believed; and the number of the men was about five thousand.”
We often hear about how “about 3,000 souls were added to the church” (Acts 2:41) after Peter preached at Pentecost. If many of the 5,000 believed in the Acts 4 story, that could have also been around 3,000, or even more. It was not only the story of the cross, but also the story of the resurrection.
It is important to note that the preaching of the resurrection was emphasized in both incidents, even as much as the atoning death of Christ on the cross, if not more.
Billy Graham criticized the production of “Jesus Christ Superstar” many years ago because he said they ended the story at the cross instead of at the empty tomb.
The cross is a very important part of the gospel. But it is not the entire gospel.
I Corinthians 15:1,3,4: “Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand…For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures.”
So, let us hope that our ministers don’t just talk about the resurrection on Easter Sunday, but that our ongoing message is that we serve a risen Savior.
Each of the four gospel writers told the resurrection story from a little different perspective.
My favorite story about the resurrection is in Matthew 28:1-19:
1. In the end of the sabbath as it began to dawn toward the first day of the week came Mary Magdalene and the other Mary to see the sepulchre.
2. And, behold, there was a great earthquake: for the angel came down from heaven and rolled back the stone from the door and sat upon it.
3. His countenance was like lightning, and his raiment as white as snow:
4. And for fear of him the keepers did shake, and became as dead men.
5. And the angel answered and said unto the women, Fear not ye: for I know that ye seek Jesus, which was crucified.
6. He is not here: for he is risen, as he said. Come, see the place where the Lord lay.
7. And go quickly and tell his disciples that he is risen from the dead; and, behold, he goeth before you into Galilee; there ye shall see him: lo, I have told you.
8. And they departed quickly from the sepulchre with fear and great joy; and di run to bring his disciples word.
9. And as they went to tell his disciples, behold, Jesus met them, saying, All Hail. And they came and held him by the feet and worshipped him.