The resurrection that changes everything

That Friday was a very black, dark day. From 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., the Romans crucified Jesus.

Luke 23:44 relates, “And it was about the sixth hour [noon], and there was darkness over all the earth, until the ninth hour [3 p.m.].”

As God the Father poured out his wrath it was as if he was closing the veil so that no one would see his son as he walked through the valley of the shadow of death. The sun was obscured. The light was shut out.

Dionysius was a Greek scientist living in Egypt. He reported seeing this darkness in the city of Heliopolis. This is ironic, because Heliopolis in Greek means “the city of the sun.” However, the sun at this time was blacked out.

Phlegon was a Roman writer. He lived in Asia Minor, what is now modern-day Turkey. He wrote, “There was a great and remarkable eclipse of the sun above any that had happened before. At the sixth hour the day turned into the darkness of night so that the stars were seen in heaven. There was a great earthquake at Bithynia which overthrew many of the houses of Nice.” He mentioned not only the darkness but also an earthquake. The moment Jesus died a tremendous earthquake hit (Matthew 27:51).

The resurrection changed everything. The one reality upon which everything hangs and pivots is the resurrection of Jesus Christ. The resurrection defeated the grave. The resurrection routed the enemies of Jesus. The resurrection empowers and enthrones the followers of Christ. The resurrection proves Jesus to be Lord of heaven and earth. It is the resurrection that changes everything. Without the resurrection, all of Christianity comes tumbling down. What are the theological implications of the resurrection of Jesus? There are six implications of the death of Jesus.

The first is that it proved that he was the son of God. Romans 1:4 reads, “… and declared to be the Son of God with power, according to the Spirit of holiness, by the resurrection from the dead.” The greatest evidence of the deity of Jesus is his resurrection. His ability to conquer death (a power belonging only to God himself) established beyond all doubt that he was indeed God.

The second implication is that it confirmed the truth of all that he said. The angel said, “He is not here; for He is risen, as He said.” (Matthew 28:6)

Over and over Jesus predicted his impending death, burial and resurrection. Luke 24:8 reports that they “remembered His words.”

Another implication is that it makes certain the resurrection of all believers (1 Corinthians 15:20-22). “For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive.” Jesus is described as the firstfruits of the resurrection. If you are a believer in Jesus you also will be resurrected to eternal life in heaven.

The fourth implication is that it guarantees the judgment of all. Acts 17:31 says that “because He [God] has appointed a day on which He will judge the world in righteousness by the Man whom He has ordained. He has given assurance of this to all by raising Him from the dead.” Every person will stand before Jesus. Every person will give an account for his life. Some will gain eternal life, others will receive eternal death.

A fifth implication is that it proves our justification. Jesus died for our sins. He died as a substitute. Your sins and my sins were placed upon Him. Romans 4:25 states that he “was delivered up because of our offenses, and was raised because of our justification.” Did the Father accept the sacrifice offered by Jesus? The resurrection demonstrates that God the Father accepted the sacrifice Jesus made on the cross.

A sixth implication is that Jesus has the keys of death and Hades. Hebrews 2:14 says, “… that through death He [Jesus] might render powerless him who had the power of death, that is, the devil.” The only way to destroy Satan was to rob him of his most potent weapon — death. This includes physical death, spiritual death and eternal death. Satan knew that God required death for us because of sin. Death became the most certain fact of life. Satan knew that men, if they remained as they were, would die and go out of God’s presence into the lake of fire forever. God had to wrest from Satan the power of death. Jesus came for that purpose.

If you have a more powerful weapon than your enemy, his weapon becomes useless. You cannot fight a machine gun with a spear. Satan’s weapon is very powerful, but God has a weapon even more powerful — eternal life — and with it Jesus destroyed death.

The way to eternal life is through resurrection. The way to resurrection is through death. Jesus died for our sins. Jesus said, “Because I live, you can live also” (John 14:19) The resurrection of Jesus provides the believer with eternal life.

Hallelujah, what a Savior! Put your faith and truth in the sacrifice Jesus made for you on the cross. Trust in his resurrection.

Ethan Hansen is pastor at Faith Bible Fellowship in Big Lake. He can be contacted at ethanchansen@gci.net.