The future holds a special fascination for many people. Not the end-time future, but the near future. Who will win today’s ball game? How will this weekend’s party turn out? Did the boss like my work? How did I do on the test?
The answer to each of these questions usually brings an element of hope. We hope our team wins, the party is a success, the boss likes our work and we pass our test. Hope helps to make the future exciting.
When there is no basis for genuine hope, disappointment results. Do you remember the show It’s the Great Pumpkin Charlie Brown? Linus, Charlie Brown’s best friend, waited in the pumpkin patch for the Great Pumpkin to appear. Charlie Brown’s younger sister, Sally, had a crush on Linus and waited with him for the Great Pumpkin to arrive. They waited all night. Of course, the Great Pumpkin never came. Sally was crushed.
How often do we wait without any true hope? God gives Christian’s genuine hope in this life, and that hope centers on the resurrection.
A resurrection means the coming to life from death. A resurrection means change. An extreme change. An unbelievable change. A desirable and needed change.
Christianity offers the hope of change in one’s life. So many live with hurts, heartaches and pain that truly have a negative impact on their lives. Christianity says change can happen.
Since resurrection involves a revival to life from death, it will involve a new beginning. Many people in our communities have made some poor choices and bad decisions in their lives. Of course, we all have made poor decisions, but some poor choices have devastating consequences on our lives.
These individuals look to the future with no hope. For them, a new life will not necessarily be a good thing. It might be more of the same. With resurrection, there is a new beginning and a new start. A chance exists the cycle of poor choices can be stopped, even eradicated from a person’s life. Resurrection means life, abundant life and eternal life.
What is the basis for hope in life? What is the basis for experiencing resurrection? The answer is the resurrection of Jesus Christ. Jesus Christ was crucified. He died on a cross and was buried. From a human perspective, that should have been the end. God, however, was totally in control of the situation. Jesus rose from the dead. He was resurrected, physically and bodily.
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The Apostle Thomas was one who saw no hope when Jesus was crucified. He refused to believe the early reports from women and his fellow apostles that Jesus was alive.
In John 20:27, Jesus offered proof of his resurrection to Thomas. He revealed his hands had the scars from nails being driven into them. He offered his side for Thomas to place his hand where a Roman soldier’s spear had been thrust. He told Thomas to “stop doubting and believe.”
For Christianity, the resurrection is the single historical event without which the faith collapses. Without the resurrection, Christians believe a fantasy. As Paul put it in 1 Corinthians 15:19, if Christ has not been raised from the dead, then Christians should be pitied above all other people. Why? Because we would believe such an incredible falsehood.
How can we believe such an incredible assertion that Jesus rose from the dead? The best evidence is given by Scripture. Look at the disciples. They truly had believed Jesus was the messiah. In no way were they prepared for his death by crucifixion. Certainly, Jesus had told them on many occasions the Son of Man must suffer and die (Mark 8:31). Evidently, the disciples did not hear what Jesus was saying. Not hearing what is said is an every day occurrence. Just ask any school teacher or college professor.
When the disciples gathered in the upper room, they were defeated and devastated by the fact that the one in whom they had placed their faith was dead. In no way were they looking for a messiah who would die.
Days later, these defeated disciples were joyously proclaiming the good news of salvation in Jesus Christ. The opening chapters of the book of Acts testify to their changed attitudes. The mere existence of the Christian faith shows something happened to the disciples to convince them to proclaim Jesus as Lord. The bodily resurrection of Jesus is the only thing that makes logical sense.
Because Jesus was resurrected bodily, his followers have the hope they, too, will be bodily resurrected one day. This means no believer needs to fear death. It is not final. It is not the end. Jesus defeated death, so fear is unnecessary.
Because Jesus was resurrected bodily, believers have a genuine hope for the future in this life. A spiritual resurrection would not have the same impact a bodily resurrection has. Everyone has the opportunity to have a new life in Jesus Christ by accepting him as Lord and Savior. Jesus Christ, the risen Lord of all, gives lasting hope.
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