What the Resurrection Means to Us

What does the resurrection of Jesus mean to you? What does it mean to me?

First, it assures our future resurrection. Because Jesus both died and rose again, we will be raised like Him. 1 Corinthians 15:20 says, "But now Christ is risen from the dead, and has become the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep." The word "firstfruits" speaks of a sampling, a foretaste, a glimpse. Jesus is the firstfruit.

Jesus has died and has risen, so we know that our resurrected bodies in some way will resemble His resurrection body. To what extent, we cannot be certain. But if they were completely like His, it would mean that we would be clearly recognizable.

Second, the resurrection of Jesus is a proof of future judgment. Now that may not sound all that exciting, but it’s something we need to know. We live in a society, and indeed a world, in which justice is often perverted and neglected. We look at things that happen and say, "How can that be? How could that happen?" The Resurrection means, among other things, that God’s justice will ultimately prevail.

Third, the resurrection of Christ gives us power to live the Christian life (see Romans 8:11). Certainly the Bible does not teach that we will be sinless in this physical body we now live in. On the other hand, we can sin less, not by our own abilities, but by the power of the Spirit.

Christ can make us altogether different kinds of people. We must believe that. "Old things have passed away . . . all things have become new" (2 Corinthians 5:17). God can give you the power to live this Christian life.