This is the third and final article leading up to Easter and the celebration of the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead which was the greatest miracle ever performed on planet earth.
The one event which is the most crucial of all time is the Resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead. Everything we believe as Christians is rooted and founded in the Resurrection. When we think of Jesus there are three central events which immediately come to mind. We think of His birth, His death on the cross and His resurrection. This event is so centrally important that the satan has been on a two-thousand year quest to try to explain it away. Theories abound which seek to destroy the resurrection. One thing is clear and true; you can’t destroy a historical event. It happened and that is that. The dropping of the atomic bomb is historical. It can’t be denied. The great Chicago fire is historical. It cannot be denied. The landing of man on the moon is historical. It cannot be denied. So, the truth is set. Historical events cannot be denied. And, the resurrection of Jesus is historical. It cannot be denied.
Many scholars believe that in all of his Biblical writings, the Apostle Paul wrote his highest and most victorious lines in 1 Corinthians 15. When one studies these passages, they will find that the victory of the resurrection over death and the grave is overwhelming. It is awe-inspiring. It is powerful beyond description. We will not be able to fully understand the resurrection event until we are in heaven but we can know enough by faith to get us to that Glorious place.
I want to remind the reader of several things with this article and at the end of it I will show you something most people never think about. It is a fact that belief in the resurrection is necessary for salvation. We find this truth in Romans 10:9-10. Satan tries to negate the resurrection with all kind of theories. There is his “swoon” theory. This says that Jesus was not dead and the cool atmosphere in the tomb caused him to revive. If one reads the way in which Jesus was put to death, how in the world could anyone believe that He was not dead. He was flogged beyond the degree most were flogged. He was unrecognizable when it was finished. He was crucified and the Romans knew how to kill a person with this manner of death. It was the most cruel process used by the Romans to kill someone. He was stabbed in the side with a spear with blood and water rushing out of His body. The Romans said He was dead as well as all the people at the crucifixion. His body was prepared according to Jewish tradition and He was placed in a tomb. Jesus did not “swoon.” He was physically dead. Another theory is that His body was stolen. Roman guards were on duty at the tomb. It was impossible for someone to steal His body. And why would anyone steal His remains? Every one of the apostles except John were killed for their belief in Jesus. Would you die for a lie? No! But, every one of the apostles testified to their death that Jesus was resurrected and appeared to many people before His ascension into heaven on a cloud. Satan’s theories just don’t hold water and never did.
The resurrection of Jesus from the dead gives those who believe in Him a special gift. They will be given a glorified body when He comes back and resurrects those who have confessed Him as Lord and Savior. The Apostle Paul deals with this in First Corinthians 15. The glorified body is essential equipment for eternal life in heaven. You will not be a spirit floating around on a cloud with a harp in your hands when you are in heaven. The glorified body, given at your resurrection, assures the fact that you will be a glorified person in heaven serving God and relating to all those you will know there. This glorified body is supernatural and will be able to do many things your natural body can’t do. It has to be a supernatural body to live in a supernatural place: Heaven.
Jesus revealed Himself in His glorified body to many people. First was Mary Magdalene in John 20:11-18. He was additionally seen by the men on the road to Emmaus. He walked with them and talked with those men. He even ate with them and finally disappeared right before their eyes. In John 20:19-23, Jesus revealed Himself to His disciples when Thomas was not there. He later revealed Himself to them while Thomas was present and Thomas was fully convinced of who he was seeing and talking to. He revealed Himself in Acts 1:1-10 and caught a cloud back to glory in their sight. Finally, He was seen by Paul himself in Acts 9 and Jesus said to him: “I am Jesus whom thou persecutes…”
This glorified body is necessary to inhabit eternity. You can’t inhabit eternity with the body you now have. Paul says in 1 Cor. 15:50…”Flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God.” John tells us that when Jesus comes back that we will know what we shall be like because we will be like Him. We will be equipped with a spiritual, glorified body just like Jesus has a spiritual, glorified body. Paul never speaks of “burying” a Christian. He refers to “planting” a believer. When something is “planted”, it is expected to grow and be much better than what was planted. The same is true of us. We “plant” Christians expecting Jesus to do as He says and that He will return one day for His harvest which will be more, much more than what was “planted.”
What can this glorified body do? It can pass through solid objects. The stone that sealed His tomb was not removed so Jesus could get out. It was removed so man could get inside and see that Jesus was already gone. But the glorified body can be solid itself. Thomas was told to put his finger in the nail holes and in the gash on Jesus’ side. The glorified body can appear anywhere at the speed of thought. Jesus appeared at different places after the resurrection without having to travel there. He just appeared there. The glorified body can communicate with others as Jesus did. It can defy gravity as He did on the Mount of Olives when He ascended into heaven. The people watched Him go up and the Angels asked them “You men of Galilee, why stand ye gazing up into heaven? This same Jesus who is taken up from you into heaven shall so come in like manner as ye have seen Him go into heaven.”…Acts 1:10-11. The glorified body can even prepare a meal. Jesus met his disciples on the shore of the Sea of Galilee and He had prepared some fish to eat. He said, “Come and dine.”
From one supernatural event to others, the glorified body demonstrates its capacities. All of these things and more are true of the glorified body which Christians will one day possess. But having examined all of this, there is one thing that I have not pointed out. I haven’t told you a truth that is quite obvious and is demonstrated here on the shore of the Sea of Galilee. This will tie a neat bow on the validity of the bodily Resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead. Here it is:
Dead Men Don’t Eat Fish! Only people who are alive can eat fish. Jesus is Alive!!
The Resurrection is an undeniable reality! We are a BLESSED people!
I hope everyone has a Happy Easter! God Bless You!
