He Lives

“He is not here: for He is risen, as He said” Matthew 28:6

These glorious words, spoken by an angel, brought fear and great joy to those who heard them. The previous weeks must have been a blur of activity to them. They had seen their Messiah, the Lord Jesus, raise Lazarus from the dead, enter triumphantly into Jerusalem as their King, and then be betrayed, arrested, beaten, and hung on a cross to die between two criminals. They had thought He was the One who would deliver them from their enemies and lead them into His kingdom. Now, early in the morning, they were visiting His tomb.

The news that He was alive should not have surprised them. He foretold His crucifixion and resurrection many times. In fact, time after time, He told them that He would go to Jerusalem, die, and rise again (Matthew 16:21; 17:22-23; 20:18-19). The importance of His resurrection is as great as that of His death. Jesus “was delivered up because of our offenses, and was raised because of our justification” (Romans 4:25). Through His death the penalty was paid for our sins. Through His resurrection we are given a living hope—the proof that His promises are true (1 Peter 1:3-5). Without a living Savior, there is no hope. “If Christ is not risen, your faith is futile” (1 Corinthians 15:17). But He lives! “I am He who lives, and was dead, and behold, I am alive forevermore. Amen. And I have the keys of Hades and of Death” (Revelation 1:18).

Because of His resurrection, Jesus lives as the hope and glory of the believer and the Judge of the unbeliever. Have you turned to God in repentance, putting your faith in Jesus Christ —claiming His gift of eternal life? “For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Romans 6:23).

If you have not, come to Him right now. Coming to Jesus means believing that He alone is able and willing to be your personal Savior and Lord: “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and you will be saved” (Acts 16:31). “If you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved” (Romans 10:9).

If you have trusted the living Savior, consider this: “He died for all, that those who live should live no longer for themselves, but for Him who died for them and rose again”(2 Corinthians 5:15). He has died for you and risen again to raise you from spiritual death to spiritual life. “If then you were raised with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ is, sitting at the right hand of God. Set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth. For you died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God” (Colossians 3:1-3).

Jesus said, “I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in Me, though he may die, he shall live. And whoever lives and believes in Me shall never die. Do you believe this?” (John 11:25-26).