The Importance of the Resurrection

I want to share a few thoughts today, Easter Sunday, the day we celebrate Christ's resurrection, about the supreme importance of that event.  Specifically, let's see what 1 Corinthians 15 says about it.

¹²Now if Christ be preached that he rose from the dead, how say some among you that there is no resurrection of the dead?
¹³But if there be no resurrection of the dead, then is Christ not risen:
¹⁴And if Christ be not risen, then is our preaching vain, and your faith is also vain.
¹⁵Yea, and we are found false witnesses of God; because we have testified of God that he raised up Christ: whom he raised not up, if so be that the dead rise not.
¹⁶For if the dead rise not, then is not Christ raised:
¹⁷And if Christ be not raised, your faith is vain; ye are yet in your sins.
¹⁸Then they also which are fallen asleep in Christ are perished.
¹⁹If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men most miserable.

For us who are Christians, this is a sobering thought:  If Christ did not rise from the dead, we are without hope and miserable!  But the next verses give us great encouragment:

²⁰But now is Christ risen from the dead, and become the firstfruits of them that slept.
²¹For since by man came death, by man came also the resurrection of the dead.
²²For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive.

Christ was seen by many people after His resurrection, and two millenia of history testify to His living influence in the lives of countless Christians.  And why?  Because He is alive!

Easter Sunday: Matthew 28:1-8

1 In the end of the sabbath, as it began to dawn toward the first day of the week, came Mary Magdalene and the other Mary to see the sepulchre.
2 And, behold, there was a great earthquake: for the angel of the Lord descended from heaven, and came and rolled back the stone from the door, and sat upon it.
3 His countenance was like lightning, and his raiment white as snow:
4 And for fear of him the keepers did shake, and became as dead men.
5 And the angel answered and said unto the women, Fear not ye: for I know that ye seek Jesus, which was crucified.
6 He is not here: for he is risen, as he said. Come, see the place where the Lord lay.
7 And go quickly, and tell his disciples that he is risen from the dead; and, behold, he goeth before you into Galilee; there shall ye see him: lo, I have told you.
8 And they departed quickly from the sepulchre with fear and great joy; and did run to bring his disciples word.