Gazing Into the Eyes of God – The Resurrection

Gazing Into the Eyes of God

Awake, O sleeper, rise up from the dead, and Christ will give you light. (Eph 5:14)

How long have I looked at this world, so hopelessly in decay?
How long have I gone on thinking this is the only way?
All I see before me is groaning for the day
When our Lord returns to make things new, the old will pass away.
How long have I wandered the streets of mediocrity?
How long have I floated in circles, hopelessly lost at sea?
How long has it been since I truly ceased to be?
I was dead but now I live because my Savior lives in me!

No more will I walk through this life as if only in a dream.
No more will I simply assume that things are just as they seem.
I’ve drunk from his well of love – it’s a never-ending stream.
Jesus conquered death and rose to life; our lives he would redeem!

His love releases me from the bondage of a broken heart.
His love surrounds me and assures me we will never be apart.
His love rushes through me like a feeling I’ve never known.
I know that he loves me and considers me his own.

Now I’m gazing into the eyes of God!
I am diving through the depths of his never-ending love!
I can soar to the heights of a joy that comes only from above,
When I’m gazing into the eyes of God!

Matthew 28, Mark 16, Luke 24, John 20: The Resurrection

Matthew 28, Mark 16, Luke 24, John 20 (The Resurrection)

The resurrection of Jesus Christ is the most important event in history. Previously, we watched our Savior suffer the most horrific death possible. Darkness had covered the earth, and earthquakes rocked the world to its very core. But that was not the end of the story; it was only the beginning. Jesus willingly offered himself as a sacrifice for our sins, and in giving the ultimate offering of love, he defeated sin and was raised to life again.

How can we really be certain that Jesus was resurrected, or do we simply have to have blind faith? There are several things that demonstrate that the resurrection was a real event.

First, after his resurrection, he showed himself, not only to his disciples but to more than 500 witnesses. His post-resurrection visits to the disciples are recorded in the Gospels, but in Paul tells us this:

I passed on to you what was most important and what had also been passed on to me. Christ died for our sins, just as the Scriptures said. He was buried, and he was raised from the dead on the third day, just as the Scriptures said. He was seen by Peter and then by the Twelve. After that, he was seen by more than 500 of his followers at one time, most of whom are still alive, though some have died. Then he was seen by James and later by all the apostles.
1 Corinthians 15:3-7

Second, the tomb was empty. In Matthew 28 the chief priests circulated the idea that the body had been stolen, but this is simply not logical. How do we know?

The tomb was guarded. Matthew 27:62-66 says, “The next day, on the Sabbath, the leading priests and Pharisees went to see Pilate. They told him, ‘Sir, we remember what that deceiver once said while he was still alive: ‘After three days I will rise from the dead.’ So we request that you seal the tomb until the third day. This will prevent his disciples from coming and stealing his body and then telling everyone he was raised from the dead! If that happens, we’ll be worse off than we were at first.’ Pilate replied, ‘Take guards and secure it the best you can.’ So they sealed the tomb and posted guards to protect it.” We also know that Roman guards took their jobs very seriously, because when they failed, they were usually executed.

The tomb was cut into a rock, and a huge stone was placed in front of it that would have been impossible for one person to move.

The tomb was sealed by the Romans, indicating someone was buried there. To remove such a seal could result in a death sentence.¹ The Bible tells us that the disciples were hiding following the crucifixion in fear for their life. It hardly seems logical for them to hide to avoid death, only to break the seal and risk a death sentence.

The graveclothes were left behind. Would someone really go to all of the trouble of defeating the guards, removing a huge stone and risk breaking the Roman seal, and then painstakingly remove the graveclothes, fold them neatly, and carry a naked body out of the tomb? Honestly, it would make no sense, as there was never a prophecy that the graveclothes would be left behind. In fact, when Lazarus was raised from the dead in John 11, he was wearing his graveclothes, so there was no precedent for leaving them behind.

Third, we have the subsequent behavior of the disciples. Remember that John 20 tells us that the disciples were hiding for fear of the Jewish leaders. Yet following the day of Pentecost when they were filled with the Holy Spirit, they spoke boldly, thereby risking beating, mocking, prison and death on a regular basis. Eventually, all of the disciples except for John were martyred for their faith. Even James, a brother of Jesus who had denied Jesus throughout his life, became an ardent supporter after the resurrection. Later, he was stoned for his testimony. For these men to go from frightened cowards to unstoppable crusaders, practically overnight, isn’t logical or in line with psychological theory.²

What does this mean for us?

First, it means that Jesus conquered death so that he could make a way for us to live with him in Paradise forever. He did what no other human being could do. We can have eternal life with God in Heaven because (and only because) of what Jesus did for us. There isn’t another path, because all other “paths” or “faiths” require accomplishments on the part of mankind. Mankind is incapable of accomplishing this. No amount of good works can accomplish this. No amount of “right living” can do it, either.

The truth is that any amount of sin separates us from God. Romans 3:23-24 says, “For everyone has sinned; we all fall short of God’s glorious standard. Yet God, in his grace, freely makes us right in his sight. He did this through Christ Jesus when he freed us from the penalty for our sins.” We know we have sinned; we are intrinsically wired to know this. No amount of good works can make up for this, and any religion that tells you that it can is deceiving you. Only by accepting Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior can you gain salvation. He is the only one who was qualified to pay the price for our sin.

Yes, Adam’s one sin brings condemnation for everyone, but Christ’s one act of righteousness brings a right relationship with God and new life for everyone. Because one person disobeyed God, many became sinners. But because one other person obeyed God, many will be made righteous.
Romans 5:18-19

Second, it means that we don’t have to live our lives in bondage to sin any longer. We don’t have to live our lives in fear of things around us or despair about the wretched condition of the world in which we live. Romans 6:14 says, “Sin is no longer your master, for you no longer live under the requirements of the law. Instead, you live under the freedom of God’s grace.” We can now live our lives with the Spirit of Christ living in us to help us to conquer sin.

Our lifetime in this world is fleeting. In the grand scheme of eternity, it is a mere blip. But eternity is something else altogether. It is forever. Think about that for just a minute. If our life is a blip, can you even begin to imagine eternity? We can’t, because it is simply beyond our imagination.

Each one of us is called to make a choice. We can choose to accept the sacrificial gift of Jesus Christ, admitting that we are unable to pay the price alone, and spend eternity with him in Paradise. Jesus said:

“‘Don’t let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God, and trust also in me. There is more than enough room in my Father’s home. If this were not so, would I have told you that I am going to prepare a place for you? When everything is ready, I will come and get you, so that you will always be with me where I am.’”
John 14:1-3

Jesus is preparing that place today for those who accept the gift he offers.

Unfortunately, many will reject this gift. Jesus also said:

“You can enter God’s Kingdom only through the narrow gate. The highway to hell is broad, and its gate is wide for the many who choose that way. But the gateway to life is very narrow and the road is difficult, and only a few ever find it.”
Matthew 7:13-14

For some, it is a matter of pride. They believe that they are somehow capable of earning their way to Heaven and won’t accept the gift of salvation. (How good is good enough?) Others feel so undeserving that they simply can’t accept grace. They mistakenly believe that something that they have done has somehow permanently separated them from God or that they have committed some kind of unpardonable sin.

Some have simply been deceived. Jesus says in Matthew 7:15, “‘Beware of false prophets who come disguised as harmless sheep but are really vicious wolves.’” Many have come (and will continue to come) with soothing words and ideas that appeal to our lifestyle. Some of these false prophets truly believe that they (complete with their human limitations) have somehow managed to find the truth apart from Jesus Christ, yet their good intentions are leading their followers straight to hell.

Whatever the reason, rejection of the offer means spending eternity away from God. God is good and Heaven is Paradise. Separation from God means separation from all that is good. It is pain and suffering, torment, darkness, and alone-ness – and it is forever. If you have not accepted Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior and are trying to rely on some other path to Heaven, ask yourself one question: What if you are wrong? The Bible is clear regarding the path to salvation, and there is proof of its truth for those who choose to look for it. God has sent his Word and countless other proofs of that Word, and we will be held accountable for what is there.

Whatever decision you make, it will be eternal and irreversible. Are you willing to risk making the wrong choice? Are you willing to lead others to make the wrong choice?

Related Devotional

He Knows Your Name!

Resources

These websites discuss the difference between Christianity and other faiths:

“What Makes Christianity Different” by Muriel Larson. What Makes Christianity Different?

“Resurrection of Jesus: Hoax or Truth?” Here Josh McDowell gives answers to questions regarding the truth of the resurrection. Resurrection of Jesus: Hoax or Truth?

“Historical Evidence for the Resurrection” by Matt Perman. Historical Evidence for the Resurrection

I also recommend the books “So What’s the Difference” by Fritz Ridenour and “The Compact Guide to World Religions” by Dean C. Halverson, General Editor.

Next Article – Your Vessel: The Great Commission

Citations:

Unless otherwise indicated, all Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, a Division of Tyndale House Ministries, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

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