The Truth of the Resurrection

Dear Readers,

Alleluia! Christ is Risen! He is Risen indeed! Alleluia!

There is so much truth contained in that age old Easter greeting. In the Lutheran tradition and practice, the above sentences are said from the Pastor to members and from the members back to the Pastor as a form of greeting. This greeting is packed full of truth. It is true that Jesus Christ is risen from the dead. "How do you know that?" some people may ask. Some continue, "After all, the only evidence is a book that was written by men. Men are sinful, so therefore the product of their writing must also be sinful. It's not a reliable witness for the truth."

My reply to a statement like that is, "The truth of the matter is, I can't 'prove' what happened to Jesus with any sources outside of the Bible. But the truth of the resurrection is not dependent upon evidence outside the Bible. The truth of the resurrection is dependent upon what is contained inside the Bible. I use a phrase to describe my understanding and belief in the truth. That is, "If it's in the Bible, and God inspired sinful men to write God's truth, then God can inspire the writer to write the truth without any errors or fabrication." To me, the truth that the resurrection happened is contained in God's Word. Now I must ask a related question, "Why is it necessary for the resurrection to be true?"

The resurrection must be true, as St. Paul writes in 1st Corinthians 15, "But now Christ has been raised from the dead, the first fruits of those who have fallen asleep. For since death came through a man, the resurrection of the dead also comes through a man. For just as in Adam all die, so also in Christ all will be made alive. But each in his own order: Christ, the first fruits; afterward, at His coming, the people of Christ. Then comes the end, when He hands over the kingdom to God the Father, when He abolishes all rule and all authority and power. ..." (1st Corinthians 15:20-24 Christian Standard Version) What Paul says for us is, if Christ didn't rise from the dead, then our faith is of no value. Paul also says that Christ did raise from the dead. It is true. There is no doubt.

And Christ's resurrection leaves us with such a great joy. Christ's resurrection guarantees that we will rise with Him. Christ's resurrection guarantees that we live with Him is great grace and mercy, until we are raised from the dead. And finally, Christ's resurrection guarantees that we, who are sinful by birth are forgiven by Jesus' death and a new life was created for us when Jesus rose from the grave.

And the greeting that we use is an exclamation point to emphasize the truth. The truth of, "Alleluia! Christ is Risen! He is Risen indeed! Alleluia!"