John 20:1–18

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Dean, School of Christian Studies, University of Mobile

BELIEVING THE TRUTH
John 20:1–18

Some say Easter faith does not depend on Easter fact. According to this view, whether Jesus rose is not nearly so important as whether the disciples believed He rose. This is a new theological version of the old question “If a tree falls in the forest and no one is there to hear it, does it make a sound?” Only this time, the question is more like “Does it matter whether the tree falls in the forest so long as you hear the sound?” Its theological counterpart holds that it does not matter whether Jesus rose from the dead so long as His disciples believe and preach that He did.

Whether Jesus rose from the dead may affect some folks’ faith very little, but my whole Christian faith stands or falls on it. Take away Jesus’ resurrection and my faith falls to the ground entirely.  

The text shows Jesus rose from the dead because the tomb was empty and He appeared in person to Mary Magdalene and a group of unnamed disciples on Easter evening. Because Jesus lives:

I Believe in the God of the Bible
Christian philosophers have developed seven arguments for God’s existence. Some of those arguments go a long way toward demonstrating logically that a God exists. But not one of them can show that the God of the philosophers is the God of Abraham and Moses, the Father of the Lord Jesus Christ. My belief in the God of the Bible rests on Jesus’ resurrection. Because He lives, I believe “in God who raised Him from the dead” (1 Pet. 1:21).

Nature makes no provision for resurrection, so Jesus’ resurrection shows there is supernatural power in this universe. Men can build a bomb that can vaporize a million people in a moment and land a lunar vehicle on the moon with accuracy. But no one can raise a man three days dead. Jesus’ resurrection points to a supernatural being with incredibly great power. Once more, the resurrection indicates God’s involvement in this world. He is not the absentee landlord of deism (the doctrine that God created the world but takes no part in it). If God stepped into space-time history and made death work backward once — and He did on the first Easter — then the door is open to His repeated involvement in this world.

I Believe Jesus of Nazareth Is the True God
What is the real proof that Jesus of Nazareth is God come in the flesh? When skeptics asked for an incontrovertible sign that He was the Son of the living God, Jesus gave them only one: the sign of the resurrection (Matt. 12:38–40). Paul said, “He was declared (‘marked out’) to be the Son of God by the resurrection from the dead” (Rom. 1:4). In raising Jesus from the dead to die no more, God announced to all ages, “This is my beloved Son. Hear ye Him!”

Had Jesus been an imposter and a false prophet, God would never have raised Him from the dead. The resurrection set the divine seal of approval on His testimony about Himself and God, about the state and fate of man, about the way of salvation and about heaven and hell. Because He lives, I believe Jesus Christ is Lord of lords and King of kings, the unique Son of God and the only Savior of the world.

I Believe Salvation Is Possible
The New Testament links the resurrection and the cross into one great saving event. Jesus “was put to death for our trespasses and raised for our justification” (Rom. 4:25). A dead Savior is no Savior at all. Without the resurrection, there is no forgiveness, no hope, no salvation. Because He lives, however, I believe that Jesus is “able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by Him” (Heb. 7:25).

I Believe in the Life Beyond
My faith in life after life and resurrection at the last day rests on Jesus’ resurrection. He who was slain but rose and lives forevermore promised, “Because I live, ye shall live also” (John 14:19). Jesus’ resurrection assures the resurrection of all who trust in Him.

Because He lives, I can shout, “O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory?” Because He lives, someday my tombstone will read, “He is not here. He is risen as the Lord said!”