Uniquely Divine, Eternally Victorious
Easter is a day when believers around the world pause to remember and celebrate the resurrection of Jesus Christ. It is the cornerstone of the Christian faith and the ultimate demonstration of God’s power over sin and death. The resurrection of Jesus was unlike any other recorded in Scripture or history. While others have been raised from the dead—Lazarus, Jairus’ daughter, the widow’s son—only Jesus rose never to die again. He rose in power, glory, and with an eternal, glorified body. He rose as the firstfruits of those who will rise again (1 Corinthians 15:20).
The Reality and Uniqueness of Christ’s Resurrection
What makes the resurrection of Jesus Christ so distinct.
Jesus Was Not Merely Revived
In John 11, we read about the raising of Lazarus. Jesus wept at the tomb, called Lazarus forth, and he came out of the grave still wrapped in grave clothes (John 11:43-44). Yet, Lazarus would live only to die again. The same can be said for others who were brought back to life in Scripture. Their resurrections were temporary. They returned to the same life they left, and their bodies remained mortal.
Jesus, however, rose in a glorified, eternal body. He told His disciples in Luke 24:39, “See my hands and my feet, that it is I myself. Touch me, and see. For a spirit does not have flesh and bones as you see that I have.” He ate fish before them to demonstrate He was no ghost or vision (Luke 24:42-43).
His resurrection was not a return to earthly life but a passage into a new kind of life—a life that transcends death altogether. Paul says in Romans 6:9:
The Resurrection Declared His Deity
Romans 1:4 says Jesus “was declared to be the Son of God in power according to the Spirit of holiness by his resurrection from the dead.” The resurrection was not just a miracle. It was a divine declaration. No one but God can conquer death in this way. No prophet, teacher, or religious leader has ever risen from the dead to live forever in glorified form.
Jesus had foretold this moment many times. He said in John 2:19, “Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up.” His resurrection verified every claim He made about Himself. He is God in the flesh (John 1:14), the eternal Son, and the Savior of the world.
The Nature of the Glorified Body
Jesus did not return from the grave in the same condition He entered. He was transformed. Paul writes in 1 Corinthians 15:42-44:
Jesus is the prototype—the first to rise with a body suited for eternal life. Philippians 3:21 says Jesus “will transform our lowly body to be like his glorious body.” That is our hope: not just life after death, but life in the fullness of God’s presence, in bodies made new and incorruptible.
Why the Resurrection Matters
Without the resurrection, there is no gospel. Paul is crystal clear about this in 1 Corinthians 15:17: “If Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile and you are still in your sins.” The cross accomplished atonement—Jesus took our sins upon Himself—but the resurrection proved the work was accepted. It is the divine seal, the Father’s approval.
Jesus was “delivered up for our trespasses and raised for our justification” (Romans 4:25). That one verse tells us everything. The resurrection is God’s “Amen” to Jesus’ cry, “It is finished” (John 19:30).
The Cost of Redemption
Why did Jesus endure the cross? Why go through such agony, such separation from the Father?
Isaiah 53 gives a sobering and glorious picture. Verse 5 says:
And verse 10 declares:
Jesus bore the wrath of God for our sin. This is why, as He hung on the cross, He cried out, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” (Matthew 27:46). In that moment, the eternal fellowship between Father and Son was broken. Not because Jesus ceased to be God, but because the Holy One cannot look upon sin (Habakkuk 1:13). Jesus became sin for us (2 Corinthians 5:21).
No suffering has ever been so intense. The physical pain was horrendous, but the spiritual anguish was far greater. He bore the judgment of God in our place. That’s why we must never minimize the cross or sentimentalize it. It was brutal. It was shameful. And it was necessary.
The Resurrection Was Always the Plan
Jesus did not go to the cross hoping for resurrection. He went knowing. From the beginning, He spoke of what was to come.
- Matthew 16:21 – “From that time Jesus began to show his disciples that he must go to Jerusalem and suffer many things… and be killed, and on the third day be raised.”
- John 10:17-18 – “I lay down my life that I may take it up again. No one takes it from me, but I lay it down of my own accord. I have authority to lay it down, and I have authority to take it up again.”
He was in control. Even His enemies, while plotting His death, were unknowingly fulfilling prophecy (Acts 2:23). The plan of redemption was set before the foundation of the world (Revelation 13:8).
Our Hope Through His Resurrection
“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! According to his great mercy, he has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead.”
1 Peter 1:3
This is not just theological truth. It is deeply personal. Because He lives, we have:
- Forgiveness – Our sin is paid for.
- New Life – We are born again spiritually (John 3:3).
- Hope – Even in suffering, we know the outcome.
- Victory Over Death – Jesus said, “Because I live, you also will live” (John 14:19).
What Will You Do With the Risen Christ?
The resurrection demands a response. When Thomas saw the risen Lord and touched His wounds, he exclaimed, “My Lord and my God!” (John 20:28). That is the only right response.
“If you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.”
Romans 10:9
This Easter, we don’t celebrate a myth, a metaphor, or a moral tale. We celebrate a real, historical event with eternal consequence. The tomb is empty. Christ is risen. And He reigns.
As we reflect on this, let us be stirred afresh with awe and gratitude. Let us worship the risen King. And let us go and tell others, boldly and lovingly, that Jesus is alive—and He is the only way to life eternal.
He is not here, for He is risen, just as He said.
Matthew 28:6
He is risen indeed.
