When God worked out His plan to bring us hope and peace, at the right time, He sent His Son, Jesus, into the world. Jesus lived a holy life as a man and then died on the cross shedding His blood for our salvation. In that way, God can now forgive our sins because God said without the shedding of blood there is no remission or no forgiveness of sin. So, when Jesus shed His blood on the cross for our sins God can now forgive us when we believe in Jesus.
Believing in Jesus means we acknowledge that His sacrifice is the only acceptable payment for our sins and we confess that truth publicly. In that process, we become a new creation in Christ. No, we don’t get a new physical body, but we are, as it were, reborn in our spirit. Our old human nature which was controlled by sin is exchanged for a new nature, the nature of God. Through His Holy Spirit our souls and spirit are transformed into His likeness. That changes the way we think and the way we live!
After Jesus died on the cross, He was buried by Joseph of Arimathea in a tomb that Joseph had prepared for himself just outside the city of Jerusalem. It was a tomb hewn out of solid rock. There, with help from his friend, Nicodemus, they buried the body of Jesus according to the customs of their time. But Jesus arose from the dead three days later. Now He is alive.
There is no doubt about it, no one else has risen from the dead as Jesus did. When He was here living among men, He raised several people from the dead, but nobody arose as Jesus did. He arose by His own power! He said to His followers one time, “My Father loves Me, because I lay down My life that I may take it again. No one takes it from Me, but I lay it down of Myself. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again.” And He did just that.
His resurrection is a fact of history. We can read about it; we can study it. We can even go to Israel and see that empty tomb. Those in His time knew it was true. They had no doubt or question about it. They knew that He rose from the dead.
And yet, ever since that event, people have tried to spread doubts about the resurrection of Jesus. The reality of the resurrection is the foundation of saving faith. The Bible records His resurrection just like it happened in Matthew 28:1-10. I hope you can follow along in your Bible as I read this portion of Scripture.
1. In the end of the sabbath, as it began to dawn toward the first day of the week came Mary Magdalene, and the other Mary to see the tomb.
2. And behold, there was a great earthquake: for the angel of the Lord descended from heaven and came and rolled back the stone from the door and sat upon it.
3. His countenance was like lightning, and his raiment white as snow:
4. And for fear of him the keepers shook and became like dead men.
5. And the angel answered and said unto the women, Do not fear: for I know that you seek Jesus, which was crucified.
6. He is not here; for he is risen as he said. Come, see the place where the Lord lay.
7. And go quickly and tell his disciples that he is risen from the dead; and, behold, he goes before you into Galilee; there shall you see him: lo, I have told you.
8. And they departed quickly from the tomb with fear and great joy; and ran to tell his disciples.
9. And as they went to tell his disciples, behold, Jesus me...
