Let's Talk About the Resurrection

Like most pastors, I find this time of the year exhilarating. Easter provides a great opportunity to declare real hope in a world filled with doubt, dread, and despair. For example, consider this comment posted by a girl on an Internet atheist website on July 16, 2007:

I'm confused...I always believed science would be the cure-all for my problems, but I don't know if I can keep living without eternal life. I guess I'll just have to find a way myself to make it through this meaningless existence. I just wish I knew of someone who could show me the path to eternal life. If science can't provide the answers, though, then who or what can!? Doesn't it seem like there is a higher power that gives our lives purpose? Well, science says there isn't, so there isn't.

This girl unknowingly articulates the whole issue in a nutshell. If life on this earth is all there is, then existence is meaningless and one is forced to, "find a way myself", as the girl states. She wishes there was some kind of higher power that would assure her of eternal life.

Now, imagine the despair of a small band of followers as they stood watching the Messiah, their deliverer, breathing his last agonizing breath on a Roman cross. They had forsaken everything to follow him. He was the one they believed would reestablish the kingdom of Israel. But now he was dying on a cross. Life must have seemed meaningless! But far more than the fate of the disciples or even the fate of Israel hung on the cross that day. The fate of the entire human race was at stake. Christ was humanity's last hope, and yet the supposed Savior was dead, and any hope of deliverance was buried with him...or was it?

For the next few days, I'll be posting some thoughts about the personal meaning of the resurrection. Additionally, I'll be pointing out some rock-solid evidence for its validity. Hope you'll stay tuned!