The Proof of the Resurrection

Pastor Gary Oser

I want to share again this month another evidence of our Creator God from a book entitled, A Closer Look at the Evidence by Richard and Tina Kleiss.

The greatest and final proof of our Creator God and His Son, Jesus, is the Resurrection. Not only did Christ die at precisely the time of His choosing, but He also rose again on the third day by His own power. Jesus predicted this when He said in John 10:17-18,

“‘For this reason the Father loves Me, because I lay down My life so that I may take it up again. No one has taken it away from Me, but I lay it down of My own initiative. I have authority to lay it down, and I have authority to take it up again’” (NASB 1995).

After three days, Jesus arose from the dead. Christians worship a “living” Lord. All other religious founders and leaders, e.g. Mohammed, Buddha and Joseph Smith, are still in their tombs. Only the tomb of Jesus was occupied for three days and then empty forever!

In 1 Corinthians 15 Paul talks about the awful things that would be true if Christ had not risen from the grave—our preaching is in vain, our faith is in vain, we are false witnesses of God, we are still in our sins and Christians who have died have perished (vv. 14-18). Then he says triumphantly in verse 20, “But now Christ has been raised from the dead…”

Christ alone conquered death, which clearly proves that He is exactly who He said He was: “The Resurrection and the Life.” It is Christ’s resurrection that proves He alone is God and that gives Christians hope in this life, and assurance they have nothing to fear in death. It also assures them they will meet Christ again beyond the grave.

Jesus clearly declares in John 11:25-26, “‘I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in Me will live even when he dies, and everyone who lives and believes in Me will never die.’”