Buddha is dead.

Mohammed is dead.

Moses died.

Jesus died as well, but unlike these others He is dead no more.

This simple fact makes Christianity different.

Today, we celebrate this difference.

What makes Jesus special?

Jesus knew He was going to die.

And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness [Num 21:8], even so must the Son of man be lifted up [i.e. crucified]: That whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life. (John 3:14-15)

This was His purpose in coming to the earth.

Now is my soul troubled; and what shall I say? Father, save me from this hour: but for this cause came I unto this hour. Father, glorify thy name. Then came there a voice from heaven, saying, I have both glorified it, and will glorify it again. (John 12:27-28)

Jesus also knew that He could raise Himself up from the grave long before He was put to death. This was a commandment given to Him by His Father, the one we call God.

Therefore doth my Father love me, because I lay down my life, that I might take it again. No man taketh it from me, but I lay it down of myself. I have the power to lay it down, and I have the power to take it again. This command have I received of my Father. (John 10:17-18)

The disciples were falsely accused of hiding His body.

Saying, Say ye, His disciples came by night, and stole him away while we slept. (Mat 28:13).

In spite of this lie, no one found the missing body because there was no missing body. Jesus is no longer dead, He is risen!

And as they were afraid, and bowed down their faces to the earth, they said unto them, “Why seek ye the living among the dead?” (Luke 24:5)

(By the way, I love the song by this same name which comes from the musical The Choice by Nate Copeland. [1], [2], [3], [4])

The resurrection, evidenced by the empty tomb, proves the validity of the message.

Because he hath appointed a day, in the which He will judge the world in righteousness by that Man whom he hath ordained; whereof He hath given assurance unto all men, in that He hath raised Him from the dead. (Acts 17:31)

Without the resurrection, there is no point in Christianity.

And if Christ be not risen, then is our preaching vain, and your faith is vain [i.e. useless or pointless]. Yea, and we are found false witnesses of God [i.e. liars]; because we have testified of God that He raised up Christ: whom He raised not up, if so be that the dead rise not.

For if the dead rise not, then is Christ not raised: and if Christ be not raised, your faith is vain; ye are yet in your sins. Then they also which are fallen asleep in Christ are perished.

If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men most miserable. (1Cor 15:14-19)

Indeed, were there no resurrection, then there would be no hope in living.

If after the manner of men I have fought with beasts at Ephesus, what advantageth it me, if the dead rise not? Let us eat and drink; for tomorrow we die. (Eph 15:32)

But there is a resurrection! We know this from the testimony of those who have seen him.

This Jesus hath God raised up, whereof we all are witnesses. (Acts 4:32)

or again,

For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures: And that he was seen of Cephas, then of the twelve: After that, he was seen of above five hundred brethren at once; of whom the greater part remain to this present, but some are fallen asleep. After that, he was seen of James; then of all the apostles. And last of all he was seen of me also, as of one born out of due time. (1 Cor 15:3-8)

We also know this by the empty tomb, proving to all that He is the Christ!

Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly, that God hath made the same Jesus, whom ye have crucified, both Lord and Christ. (Acts 4:36)

I serve a risen Savior

Because He lives, I have been freed from my own personal sins.

Because He lives, I no longer need to live a life controlled by my own wickedness.

Because He lives, I have a future.

Because He lives, I blog.

Because He lives, you may choose to have a future as well.

If you know Christ, then please join me today in celebrating the risen Savior, which is Christ the Lord.

If you do not know Him, or perhaps if you only know of or about Him, then please let me invite you discover Him through the letters His disciples wrote describing their time with him: Matthew, Mark, Luke and John.