April 5th, 2026: Resurrection Day | I Corinthians 15:12-20, 51-58

Now about that time Herod the king stretched forth his hands to vex certain of the church. And he killed James the brother of John with the sword. And because he saw it pleased the Jews, he proceeded further to take Peter also. (Then were the days of unleavened bread.) And when he had apprehended him, he put him in prison, and delivered him to four quaternions of soldiers to keep him; intending after Easter to bring him forth to the people. Peter therefore was kept in prison: but prayer was made without ceasing of the church unto God for him.(Acts 12: 1-5)

The Resurrection changes everything.  Eternity is determined by it.  It sets apart the Christian church from every other religion and philosophy.  We count time by it, and we designate every recorded event in human history in relation to the coming of Christ.  If the tomb were not empty, there would be no need to organize the timeline of humanity around a “good teacher.”

Pagan civilizations worshipped their symbols of springtime, and had names for days that marked the turn of the season and the beginning of a new year, but the celebration of Easter is not a pagan rite, the early church commemorated Resurrection Day from the beginning. Historic scholars admit that there is very little evidence that the early church intermingled the resurrection of Jesus with the pagan fertility holiday.  Although the origins are obscure, many believe that the word Easter is a synonym for the word Paschal or Passover. This is a new beginning.  A new covenant. Christ Jesus, the Lamb of God was sacrificed for the sins of the world during the Passover celebration, but His resurrection was the fulfillment and the completion of all that the practice foretold.  

 13 But if there be no resurrection of the dead, then is Christ not risen:

14 And if Christ be not risen, then is our preaching vain, and your faith is also vain.

Every word spoken by Jesus was true, He performed miracles that no one else could perform.  As a matter of fact, John records that if all the things Jesus did were recorded, the world would not be big enough to hold the books.  He lived a perfect, sinless life and gave up everything to die in our place.  However, if the tomb isn’t empty, then all of it was for nothing.  The empty tomb is the proof that God accepted the offering. 

It demonstrates the victory of Christ over death and the grave.  It is the downpayment on our own resurrection and eternal life.  The empty tomb is proof positive that Jesus is the son of God, who has permanently taken away the sin of all who put their trust in HIm.  

I have long been a fan of Jesus, I like everything about Him.  I like how he befriends those the world has turned their backs on.  I like how he stands up to self-righteous bullies and speaks the truth to power.  I love how He teaches and heals.  I love how his Father calls out from Heaven to declare His pleasure in His Son in the Jordan River and on the Mount of Transfiguration.  But if the tomb is not empty, we should all go home and get rested up for work tomorrow.  

But the tomb is empty.  It would have been easy enough to discredit if it were not.  But hundreds witnessed the resurrected Christ.  Historians like Josephus record it as fact.  Eyewitnesses laid down their lives instead of denying the fact that He rose from the dead.  The Roman Empire fell, but the Kingdom of Christ grows day by day.  No other fact has so radically changed human existence as has the fact that Jesus Christ rose from the dead.

15 Yea, 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.

16 For if the dead rise not, then is not Christ raised:

17 And if Christ be not raised, your faith is vain; ye are yet in your sins.

18 Then they also which are fallen asleep in Christ are perished.

19 If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men most miserable.

You could argue, and you would be right, that your natural life has improved remarkably since you have given your life to Christ.  Christians are a network to support those who are around them.  The church has led in the creation of medicine, science, art, and literature.  Believers are blessed daily by the peace and presence of God in their lives.  However, if you have ever sat by the bedside of someone you love, powerless to stop the ravages of disease, watching them slip further and further away until the last breath of air slips from their body, then you know that without the hope of resurrection, we are of all men most miserable.  

Paul was dealing with political and social persecution, early believers were suffering from hunger and imprisonment, political violence and financial loss.  He assured them that it would all be worth it, because Christ had conquered death.  The empty tomb takes away the fear of what man can do.  It removes the sting of death, separation that comes from sin.  When we die in the Lord, we are joined with God, to live forever, not as a ghost or a memory, but in a body just like His.  Without an empty tomb, there is no remedy to death, our bodies dissolve and our spirits perish, but because the tomb is empty, there will not be a second that we are separated from our redeemer.  

20 But now is Christ risen from the dead, and become the firstfruits of them that slept.

51 Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed,

52 In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.

Those who have died in the Lord are safe, we can trust God with them until we are reunited.  Those who live in Christ can trust that when the Lord returns we will all experience the resurrection power of Christ.  We will be changed together, in an instant, and permanently.  

They blew the trumpet to gather the whole family of Israel together.  They gathered in battle and also in celebration.  The sound was loud, and long, and clear.  We will hear the trumpet one day, and it will bring those who have died in faith and those who live in faith together in the presence of Christ.  His resurrected body and our resurrected bodies will no longer be bound by gravity or illness or suffering.  He is the example, we will operate in His pattern.  What a beautiful mystery!  You may be asking yourself, “How exactly is that going to work?”  We don’t know the details, but those in the early church had first hand knowledge about the fact that Jesus proved it to be true.  Ask Thomas about the nail prints in His hands and the wound in His side.  Ask John the Revelator, who saw His resurrected body coming in power to conquer His enemies.  We, those who are born again, shall ALL be changed.

53 For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality.

54 So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory.

55 O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory?

Believe it or not, there is coming a day when death won’t be a fearful thought, but will be just the door we entered to reach the glorious presence of God.  Jesus won, the curse of sin has been cured.  A lot of Christians are clawing tooth and nail to hold on to this corruptible body, but be reassured, you have a better one coming.  One moment with Christ and you’ll know how ridiculous it was to plead for more time here.  We will put on immortality.  The death of one of God’s children is precious in His sight.  

Everything we need will be provided; no Christian will enter the resurrection with less than they need.  Christ has completed everything.  Your sins are gone, you are clothed in His righteousness, you are a part of the family of God, welcomed in every way.  He went away to prepare a place for you, it’s all taken care of.  Trust in God!

56 The sting of death is sin; and the strength of sin is the law.

57 But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.

58 Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord.

What are the real tangible effects of the empty tomb and our risen Lord?  Strength to stand.  The ability to overcome this world and live for Christ.  Confidence that working for our King will bring results, it is not wasted effort.  Without an empty tomb, hope would be ridiculous.  

Because He lives, I can face tomorrow, 

Because He lives all fear is gone, 

Because I know He holds the future, 

Life is worth the living just because HE LIVES!

Thank you for studying with us! God bless!