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Jesus is Alive!
by John Lemley


The most celebrated truth of the Christian faith assures victory now and forever.

The Bible is clear about Jesus who died on the cross nearly two thousand years ago. Starting three days later, women, angels, disciples, and 500 more eyewitnesses all concurred about what happened next. Over and over, they exclaimed, "He is alive!"

Let's be clear about it, too. Christians are unique in the world of religions: We serve a risen Savior.

The resurrection of Jesus is a crucial part of the gospel. Paul places at the forefront of his preaching "that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, and that He was buried, and that He rose again the third day" (1 Corinthians 15:3, 4). This is vital, for Paul goes on to say, "And if Christ is not risen, your faith is futile; you are still in your sins!" (v. 17).

Many sermons of the early the church emphasized the resurrection of Christ as a central truth: "whom God raised up".(Acts 2:24); "whom God raised from the dead"(3:15); "with great power the apostles gave witness to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus" (4:33) "Him God raised up on the third day ..." (10:40); "Christ had to suffer and rise again from the dead ..." (17:3).

Over the backdrop of an empty tomb, the Bible triumphantly says, "Jesus is not here; He is risen!" Again today, the church repeats it boldly!

Believers' Benefits

Christians enjoy several advantages from the Resurrection. For one, it assures us that our sins are paid for. Jesus was "delivered up because of our offenses, and was raised because of our justification" (Romans 4:25). The fact that He rose from the grave shows clearly that our sins are gone. The wages we earned by sinning are paid in full. If Jesus were still in the tomb, one could wonder if the price had been paid. But Jesus is alive, confirming His identity as God's Son and His power to forgive our sins and make us right before God (Romans 1:4, 16). Because Jesus lives, we don't ever have to say a final "goodbye."

The Resurrection also gives us a living Savior. Because Jesus rose from the grave, He is now at the right hand of God, serving as our intercessor and advocate (Hebrews 7:25; 1 John 2:1). These big words simply mean that Jesus is speaking for us now. He is at God's side pleading our cause, and He is at our side cheering us on. Jesus is the head of the church, giving direction. He is our example, giving courage. He answers our prayers, giving solutions—all because He is alive!

A living Savior assures us of eternal life—yet another advantage of the Resurrection. Jesus' victory over the grave assures us that the promise of eternal life really is true. We can confidently know that all who've died in Christ will live again (1 Corinthians 7 15:20; 1 Thessalonians 4:14). The pain of losing a loved one union with all those who know the risen Savior ;

Jesus is trustworthy

Jesus foretold His resurrection in Matthew 12:40, and He spelled out several of the details in Matthew 20:18, 19: the where (Jerusalem), how (betrayal, crucifixion), who (chief priests, scribes, Gentiles), and what (condemnation to death) of His death and the what (resurrection) and when (third day) of its reversal. Every prediction Jesus made happened exactly as He said.
A key verse here is "For as Jonah was three days and three nights in the belly of the great fish, so will the Son of Man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth" (12:40). The six time periods of this verse cannot be squeezed into the traditional scenario of a late Friday burial and an early Sunday resurrection.

Jesus gave His word: He would be in the grave three days and nights. And He was—from Wednesday evening, just before sunset, until Sabbath (Saturday) evening, just before sunset. The primary truth here is that Jesus rose from the dead. His accuracy regarding the length of time He would be in the grave gives us confidence that He is correct in all His other statements as well.

If Jesus' prophecy was colored with ambiguity or figures of speech, then the rest of His pronouncements might also be suspect. But our living Savior tells the truth. He is fully trustworthy—not fickle, taking back His word (Hebrews 13:8). His words are accurate to the smallest detail, and we can believe what He says.

Relying on Christ

We should rely on the One who has shown himself trustworthy in every respect of life, death, and resurrection. Here is clarity for the confused: "Do you believe in the Son of God? ... You have both seen Him and it is He who is talking with you" (John 9:35, 37). More clarity to support the weary: "Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest" (Matthew 11:28). Blessed assurance for the lonely: "I am with you always, even to the end of the age" (28:20).
"He who believes in Me, though he may die, he shall live" (John 11:25): That's a promise. Even the dead have Jesus' clear guarantee: Because He lives, they will live again. We can bank our life and our eternity on Jesus' statements. Whoever and wherever you are, whatever is happening in your life, Jesus invites you to rely on His words. They will not fail. No wonder we worship Him. Our living Savior and Lord, Jesus Christ, is worthy.

Therefore, God also has highly exalted Him and given Him the name which is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, and of those on earth, and of those under the earth, and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father (Philippians 2:9-11). Throughout eternity our love affair with Jesus will continue, thanks to the death and resurrection of Christ. As we gather around the throne, accompanied by the heavenly host, our eyes will see Him, and our lips will form these awesome words: "Blessing and honor and glory and power be to Him who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb, forever and ever!" (Revelation 5:13). This is a good time to practice. Let's bow the knee and speak the words from a heart set free. All together now— "Jesus is Lord! He is alive!"

Reprinted with permission from The Bible Advocate, April 2004 (www.cog7.org). John Lemley and his wife, Lois, live in Vancouver, WA. John serves the Church of God (Seventh Day) as pastor in Portland, OR, and as editor of the Ministerial Forum.

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January - February 2005 The Sabbath Sentinel