Why the Resurrection of Jesus Matters

How did a carpenter reset time? Because He died and came back to life.

When you do something like that, people talk about it. His death and resurrection have impacted the faith of those thousands of years later

(1 Corinthians 15:17-19 & 1 Corinthians 15:3-8).

1. The resurrection matters because it happened.

People would be more apt to tell others how to fly than to tell them how to live forever.

Matthew 16. Billions gather in His name today, and it started with 12 people on the side of a hill who gave their lives for that cause because they saw the resurrected Jesus.

1 Corinthians 15:4—over 500 people saw with their own eyes that Jesus was buried and raised on the third day. That's why this message exploded.

How do we know He died? Romans were professional executors. They would do it on the side of the road to show you their capabilities and to put fear in you.

2. The Resurrection matters because it confirms Jesus as our Savior.

The Old Testament prophesied of the resurrection (Isaiah 53).

Psalm 16:10 is the first sermon ever preached in the church, preached by Peter. Paul then preaches from this same Psalm years later (Acts 2:29-32).

Jesus defeated death. He saves us from our sins and consequences and reconciles us to God. If someone were to save us from death, they would have to go through death themselves. That's why God is such a good savior. He can reach in that miry pit and set you on solid ground.

We don't have His body. According to Matthew 28:12-15, some believed that His body was stolen.

“Now there was about this time Jesus, a wise man, if it be lawful to call him a man; for he was a doer of wonderful works, a teacher of such men as receive the truth with pleasure. He drew over to him both many of the Jews and many of the Gentiles. He was [the] Christ. And when Pilate, at the suggestion of the principal men amongst us, had condemned him to the cross, those that loved him at the first did not forsake him; for he appeared to them alive again the third day; as the divine prophets had foretold these and ten thousand other wonderful things concerning him. And the tribe of Christians, so named from him, are not extinct at this day.” - Flavius Josephus (93 AD)

1 Corinthians 15:17. If there's no resurrection, we're still in our sins.

3. The resurrection matters because it gives us hope.

You are not stuck in your sins.

John 21 marks the adventure of a lifetime for Peter, calling him to fish for people instead of fish. He gets the opportunity to witness miracle after miracle, leading up to the last supper, where Jesus tells Peter that Peter will deny Him three times. And then he does.

So, Peter returns to fishing out of shame for his actions (denying Jesus), and after a night of catching nothing, Jesus calls to Him. Jesus creates the same environment where Peter denies him and asks him if he loves Him three times. After Peter says yes, He tells him to feed His sheep. Peter wasn't meant to wallow in shame following Jesus' death and resurrection; he was meant to lead people to Christ.

Jesus' brother, James, was taken up to the top of the temple and asked to deny the resurrection twice, and he said no, leading him to be thrown off the temple. Once he hits the ground, they ask him again to deny the resurrection. And when he can't, they beat him to death.

When Peter is taken to be crucified, he asks to be crucified upside down because he is unable to be sacrificed in the same way that His Lord was.

These cowards turned courageous. Why? Because they saw the resurrected Lord.

What matters most? Many think it's their school, achievements, career, marriage, or kids. But what should matter most to you is the resurrection of Jesus.