What We Have Seen and Heard

It may surprise you to hear that when Jesus died, his primary followers didn’t band together and say, “Let’s keep the dream alive.”  Instead, they ran and hid.  In fact, by their own admission, even before he died, they fled.  Even oneof his most devoted followers, Peter, lied.  He said, “I don’t even know who he is.”  These were not courageous men.

But these same ones, who cowered and ran, ducked and hid, and lied about whether they even knew him, were the same ones who later on did risk, and eventually give away their lives, in order to spread his message.  However, it was not based on what he taught, or who he claimed to be.  The pivotal point, the defining moment, the turning point for the disciples was one single, solitary event:  the resurrection.

The resurrection changed everything.  It took this band of cowards and galvanized them into heroes who said, “Even if you take my life, you need to know:  I believe he is the Messiah, the Son of God, not because of what he taught, but because I saw him die on a cross, and three days later, I saw him alive again.”

If you take away the resurrection from Christianity, then Christianity doesn’t really have much power.  Because it’s not about what Jesus taught, or even what he claimed.  It’s about one single event.  The early message of the Christian church was simple:  “He rose from the dead!  He rose from the dead!  He rose from the dead!”

That’s why we’re still talking about him today, it’s what started a revolution, and what instigated a brand new movement.  And it’s what we get to celebrate this Sunday, when Christians gather at Imagine Church and around the world, to celebrate Easter Day.  I hope to see you there — to say together, “He rose from the dead!”