Resurrection is the central fact around which all of Christianity turns

Editor’s note: Look for a sermon or lesson from Houston’s diverse faiths every week in Belief.

A seminary professor of mine used to say that he disagreed with Billy Graham on the concept of decision.

This professor felt that once a person has heard the Gospel message, the Good News about Jesus and what He has done for us, there is no decision to be made. A person can do nothing but receive Christ into their life. I’m not sure I agree with his statement, but I see what he is saying. Once a person has heard the claims of Christ, he/she would be very foolish to turn away from a commitment to Christ.

Eugene Peterson, the clergyman and author, makes the point: “The doit-yourself, self-help culture of North America has so thoroughly permeated our imaginations that we don’t give much sustained attention to the biggest thing of all: resurrection. And the reason we don’t give much attention to it is because the Resurrection is not something we can use or manipulate or control or improve on.

“It is interesting that the world has had very little success in commercializing Easter, turning it into a commodity, the way it has Christmas. If we can’t, as we say, ‘get a handle on it,’ and use it, we soon lose interest. But resurrection is not available for our use; it is exclusively God’s operation.” You don’t see weeks and weeks of Easter sales and special events in schools. You don’t see Easter displays in public places undergoing scrutiny by anti-Christian organizations. Sure, businesses have tried to commercialize it, with the ideas of a new outfit for Easter Sunday or an Easter bouquet of flowers for that special someone. Still, Easter just doesn’t have that big a commercial appeal. Resurrection parties are not as big as birthday parties. That is one of the problems people have who are not strong in their faith. They want to just celebrate Easter and then go back to life as usual.

That’s what we do with Christmas. That may also be the reason people try to make Christmas the central fact of Christianity. But that is wrong. The Resurrection is the central fact around which all of Christianity turns. Without the Resurrection, Christianity has no special claim, nothing that differentiates it from any other religion. The risen Christ is the power that makes Christianity

real. The resurrection of Jesus Christ means that we can know there is life after this life for those who trust their lives to Him and ask Him to be their Lord and Savior. That takes more than just an annual celebration. It takes commitment and living life in a new way — even in a way that may cost you.

You see, friends, Easter is all about the resurrection and the new life that can be yours in Christ. That’s what it’s all about. It is the proof of Jesus’ claim to be the Messiah sent from God to save His people. There have been many, many people across the ages who have come along and claimed to be sent from God. But let’s face it, all but one have died and that’s the last we’ve seen or heard of them.

Jesus made that claim and backed it up by rising from the dead. During the next 40 days, He appeared to a number of people. The Bible tells us that He appeared to the disciples, to some of the women who were followers of His, even to a group of 500.

Across the ages, millions of people have believed what the Bible said about Jesus and placed their faith in what Christ did for us all. They have experienced Him in their lives in many ways. I know! I’m one of them!

Perhaps you too have experienced God’s love in a powerful way and your life has also been changed forever. But some folks are really unsure about the truth of the Bible. Some are downright anti-Christian. If you are still a little unsure, if you are a bit skeptical about this resurrection stuff, let me share a thought with you about why this resurrection has to be the real deal.

You see, I believe in the Resurrection because of the witness of those 12 brave men. When I invited Christ into my life, He reached down by the power of His Holy Spirit and turned my life around. When I came to realize that He gave His life for me personally, then I was able to open up to Him and invite Him into my life. It has not been the same since. I’ve had my ups and downs, just as His first disciples did; but I’ve been a changed person, more content with life than ever, since that day.

How about you? Have you thought about the real reason for your presence here today? Is it because you are religious and feel the need to go to church on Easter? Or is it because you are a personal friend of the risen Christ and are here to celebrate His resurrection and get recharged for another week of living for Him?

Remember, Jesus loves you so much that He died for you. It wasn’t just for all the other people in the world, it was for you and you and you and me. He died for all who would open their hearts to Him and welcome Him in as their Lord and Savior. His love was so great that He died for us.

If you have never really invited Christ into your life before and you desire to experience His amazing love in your life, today, Easter, is a fine time to do it.