1 Corinthians 15:14 “And if Christ has not been raised, then our preaching is vain, your faith also is
vain”
Many people celebrated Easter Sunday without really understanding what it’s for. Some don’t even
know why there’s a day when the whole world celebrates it despite religious differences. Obviously,
they don’t recognize Easter Sunday, though they benefit from it in many ways. But what makes it
significant is the message it declares—the resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ.
Can’t we just enjoy the event without diving too much into the message and go on celebrating? Well,
yes and no. Yes, you can go on as you please, but the problem is it will only be a mere holiday. If you are
an unbeliever, then you will find no issue here. However, celebrating an event without knowing why it is
celebrated is as good as not having it at all. That’s where the “no” comes in. You cannot truly celebrate
Easter Sunday without realizing the weight of Jesus Christ’s resurrection.
The Apostle Paul said, “And if Christ has not been raised, then our preaching is vain, your faith also is
vain” (1 Cor. 15:14). Because if Christ didn’t actually rise from the dead, what’s the point of all the
apostles’ labor for a Savior who is dead? A Savior who remained dead is not a Savior at all because a
dead person has no power to save. So many of them gave their lives, suffered, and didn’t get to live full
lives—all because of the truth that Christ rose again. Not only did their friend and teacher rose from the
dead, but their Lord and Savior came back with power. This was so life-changing to them that they
couldn’t help but speak of the things they had seen and heard (Acts 4:20).
And what’s the significance of that? Since Christ said before He died that He would die and rise again after three days, the disciples might have thought that was impossible. But when it did happen, it meant
that everything Christ claimed to be—everything He promised—was true. The one they were with was truly God Himself. He gave His life according to what was written in the Scriptures, and He rose again—proving that He is powerful enough to fulfill everything He said. Therefore, all His words proved to be reliable, and He is worthy to be trusted and worshipped. This also means that salvation indeed has come through Jesus Christ. No more animals to be sacrificed, no more laws to be justified by (the law’s use now is to guide God’s children in life). Christ has finished everything, and His resurrection tells us that His atoning sacrifice is sufficient to save His people. And what’s the significance of that? Since Christ said before He died that He would die and rise again after three days, the disciples might have thought that was impossible. But when it did happen, it meant that everything Christ claimed to be—everything He promised—was true. The one they were with was truly God Himself. He gave His life according to what was written in the Scriptures, and He rose again—proving that He is powerful enough to fulfill everything He said. Therefore, all His words proved to be reliable, and He is worthy to be trusted and worshipped. This also means that salvation indeed has come through Jesus Christ. No more animals to be sacrificed, no more laws to be justified by (the law’s use now is to guide God’s children in life). Christ has finished everything, and His resurrection tells us that His atoning sacrifice is sufficient to save His people.
This is the beauty of Christ’s resurrection. The proper response is not to spend your weekend with your
family and relax a bit, but spend it with your family in meditation to the grace of our God through Christ.
Let us be thankful for His act of grace. And as we understand the weight of His resurrection, may we live
our lives in humble and grateful submission to Him.
