Why Was Jesus Resurrected?

I think most people have heard the story of Jesus having died for their sins. However, they may not know why it was so significant that He was resurrected. They do not understand why the Apostles hung their entire message on the resurrection. They see the work of Jesus as completed on the cross. Why an epilogue?

A dead man cannot save you. This is something that His disciples knew. They had seen all the miracles but could not believe in someone who could not conquer death for Himself. Magicians did seemingly miraculous things but none of them came back from the grave. No one would pledge their allegiance to a mere miracle worker. He must be God and God must be resurrected. Anything else was just superstition.

A dead man cannot lead you. Paul said that if we confess with our mouth, "Jesus as Lord" and believe in our hearts that God raised Him from the dead we will be saved. It is essential that a boss be alive to lead you. We can follow along with generalities just so far. We can keep the ways but we cannot "hear" what the individual should do without someone currently speaking. He lives within our hearts so that we can be lead by Him. This makes no sense if He is dead.

A dead man cannot help you. Why would we pray in Jesus name if He is dead? I have been to lots of funerals and never asked a dead person for a thing. They cannot do anything for me or you or anyone.

The resurrection proved that Jesus is alive. It changed the whole message of the Apostles because their message was not one of someone whom they followed for a few years, taught a lot of great ways to live and died for His own principles. He is One who is God. He is living.

If Jesus was not resurrected, He was either a liar or a lunatic. He said He would be resurrected. The person who says this is either deluding himself or others if it is not true. His return proved in a very physical, objective way that He is who He said He is.

The resurrection so changed the Apostles lives that most of them gave their lives to get this message to the people. They believed the resurrection because they had seen it with their own eyes. They knew their resurrection was guaranteed because they had seen the Risen Lord.

The resurrection changes everything. It has changed my life. Has it changed yours?