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“And if Christ has not been raised, our preaching is useless and so is your faith.” (1 Corinthians 15:14)
In a world that questions everything, where relativism and skepticism seek to undermine eternal truths, the Resurrection of Jesus Christ stands as the most pivotal event in history. It was not a myth, not a metaphor, not a “subjective spiritual experience.” Jesus rose bodily, in flesh and bone, conquering forever the power of sin and death.
Today, more than ever, we must remember and delve into this truth, for it is the foundation of our faith, the hope amid chaos, and the light that dispels the darkness of our time.
1. The Resurrection: A Historical and Supernatural Fact
The Empty Tomb: Irrefutable Evidence
The Gospels recount in detail how, on the third day after His crucifixion, Jesus’ body was no longer in the tomb. Mary Magdalene, Peter, and John ran to the sepulcher and found it empty (John 20:1-8). But it was not a theft, nor a collective hallucination. Christ’s enemies could never produce His corpse, despite Roman guards securing the tomb (Matthew 27:62-66).
Jesus Appears: He is Not a Ghost
Some suggest the Resurrection was “spiritual,” that the disciples merely “felt” His presence. But the Gospel is clear:
- He touched and ate with them (Luke 24:39-43): “Look at my hands and my feet. It is I myself! Touch me and see; a ghost (πνεῦμα, pneuma) does not have flesh and bones, as you see I have.”
- Thomas placed his hand in His side (John 20:27): Jesus was not an ethereal apparition but a glorified, real, tangible body.
- He ate fish before them (Luke 24:42-43): A spirit does not need food.
The Greek term used in the Gospels is ἀνίστημι (anístēmi), meaning “to rise physically,” not merely a spiritual survival.
2. The Theology of the Resurrection: Why Does a Bodily Resurrection Matter?
The Resurrection Confirms the Incarnation
If Jesus had only risen “in spirit,” then His Incarnation (God becoming man) would have been a farce. But He is true God and true Man, and His risen body is the proof.
St. Paul explains: “For if the dead are not raised, then Christ has not been raised either” (1 Corinthians 15:16). Our faith is not Gnostic (rejecting matter) but glorifies the body as the temple of the Holy Spirit.
The Resurrection is the Firstfruits of Ours
Christ did not rise only for Himself but as “the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep” (1 Corinthians 15:20). His glorified body is the promise that we too shall rise. We will not be disembodied souls floating in heaven but complete beings, body and soul, in the New Creation.
3. The Resurrection in Today’s World: Why Is It Still Revolutionary?
Today, many deny the supernatural, reducing faith to mere sentiment. But the Resurrection challenges modern materialism, which claims only the visible and tangible exist.
- Against secularism: The Resurrection proves God intervened in history.
- Against relativism: It is an objective fact, not a “personal truth.”
- Against despair: It guarantees evil does not have the final word.
4. How to Live as Witnesses of the Resurrection
a) With Bold Faith
If Christ conquered death, what fear should we have? Amid crises, we must remember: “Take heart! I have overcome the world” (John 16:33).
b) With Unshakable Joy
The early Christians did not hide—they proclaimed “Christ is alive!” with courage. Our joy must infect a despairing world.
c) With Concrete Charity
The risen Jesus told Peter: “Feed my sheep” (John 21:17). The Resurrection compels us to serve, to love, to transform society.
Conclusion: He Lives, and We Shall Live with Him!
The Resurrection is not a fairy tale. It is the event that divides history, gives meaning to suffering, and secures our hope.
Today, as 2,000 years ago, the same risen Christ tells us: “Do not be afraid. I am the First and the Last. I was dead, and now I live forever and ever” (Revelation 1:17-18).
Do you believe this? Then live as one resurrected. Proclaim it. Be light. For He has truly risen. Alleluia!
