Here it is worth stopping to reflect that, if the disciples’ last glimpse

had been of their master on the cross, these passion sayings of his

…would never have been remembered, nor indeed would he

himself. With the death of Jesus there died also his disciples’ faith in

him. It was the resurrection which changed everything – taught them

to see the cross not as a stark tragedy brought about by men who

knew not what they did, but as God’s way of rescuing men from

their sins. What the first Easter Day (and those that followed)

showed the disciples was that God no less than man was at work in

the apparent debacle of the cross. The resurrection was God’s

guarantee of the redemption won upon the cross.

A.M.Hunter, Jesus – Lord and Saviour,

London:SCM Press Ltd., 1976, pp.91,92

~~~

Christians believe the resurrection actually happened. This is no

myth or fairy story, no man-made happy ending to an otherwise sad

story: this is straightforward historical fact. What is more, the

resurrection of Jesus is the foundation for all that Christians believe

and experience. Without it our faith would be empty and our

experience spurious…

Christianity stands or falls on the resurrection: take that one fact

away and the rest disintegrates into a thousand pieces, and

Christianity is finished. That means if you want to write off

Christianity, then disprove the resurrection and the job’s done! Not

surprisingly, many have tried; unfortunately for them, none has

succeeded.

John Marsh, Who Does He Think He Is?,

Leicester:Inter-Varsity Press, 1982, pp.72,73

~~~

The resurrection… makes Christianity unique. In the global village

in which we live people are increasingly asking, ‘What is the

difference between Christianity and other religions?’ The answer is

basically very simple. Christianity is the only religion in the world

based on the resurrection from the dead of its founder.

No Buddhist has ever claimed that Buddha rose from the dead.

When he died it was a passing away in which nothing whatever

remained behind. The same applied to Mohammed. According to

tradition he died on 8th. June 632AD at the age of 61 in Medina,

where his tomb is annually visited by thousands of devout Muslims.

But down the ages the claim of Christianity is that Jesus not only

died but rose from the dead and is alive today, changing people’s

lives. If this is true, then Christianity stands by itself. There is no

real comparison with other religions because their founders are

dead. Christians claim that the founder of their religion is still alive.

Val Grieve, Your Verdict, Bromley,Kent:STL

Books, 1988, p.21

~~~

But why did he rise? What difference does it make? A great deal. To

begin with, if Jesus had stayed dead, we might be able to dismiss

him as some kind of religious crank or fraud. But if he rose from

death, then we are forced to take him seriously. The resurrection is

a sign that Jesus is who he claimed to be.

Secondly, if he had stayed dead, his death would be of little

importance. But Jesus said, and Christians believe, that his death is

of crucial importance: the means of dealing with our sin and making

us God’s friends. The resurrection is God’s way of saying that

Jesus’ rescue bid has been successful , and that the benefits are now

available to all…

Thirdly, if Jesus had stayed dead, it would have made nonsense of

his claim to be the resurrection and the life, and of his offer of life

beyond death. Does he really know what he’s talking about? Can he

prove it? The resurrection is Jesus’ answer to those questions:’Yes’!

One more thing: If Jesus has risen then he is still alive. And if he is

still alive, then it is possible that his talk of returning as a judge is

not an idle threat.

John Marsh, Who Does He Think He Is?,

Leicester:Inter-Varsity Press, 1982, pp.74,75