What if Jesus Never Rose From the Dead?

Have you ever wondered what our lives would be like if Jesus did not rise from the dead? The 12 Disciples would have never gone into the world to preach the Good News of Jesus Christ’s death and resurrection. Christianity would have never become the largest religion. Western culture/society would not exist or would be totally different, as Christian teachings and lifestyle have heavily influenced it.

I believe the world would be a much harsher, crueler place. There would be less love and more hatred. There would be less hope and more sadness and despair. Life would feel so futile and lacking purpose.

The Apostle Paul says, “If Christ has not been raised, then all our preaching is useless, and your faith is useless.” (1 Corinthians 15:14). He also says, “If Christ has not been raised, then your faith is useless, and you are still guilty of your sins.” (1 Corinthians 15:17). He continues by saying, if Jesus Christ has not risen from the dead, then “All who have died believing in Christ are lost!” (1 Corinthians 15:18). “And if there is no resurrection, ‘Let’s feast and drink, for tomorrow we die!’” (1 Corinthians 15:32). Paul basically says if Jesus did not rise from the dead

then our preaching salvation through Jesus Christ is useless, our faith in Jesus Christ is useless, and we have no hope of rising from the dead either. We might as well pursue worldly pleasures.

However, Paul knew Jesus had indeed risen from the dead. He encountered the Risen Lord on the Road to Damascus. And he spent the rest of his life telling people of Jesus’ death and resurrection and proclaiming to the world that God loves us, that he died to pay the penalty for our sins, that he conquered sin and death by rising victorious from the grave, and now Jesus promises resurrection power to all who trust him for their salvation.

In 1 Corinthians 15:20-22, Paul declares, “But in fact, Christ has been raised from the dead. He is the first of a great harvest of all who have died.  So you see, just as death came into the world through a man, now the resurrection from the dead has begun through another man.  Just as everyone dies because we all belong to Adam, everyone who belongs to Christ will be given new life.”

Death came into our world through Adam and now resurrection from the dead and eternal life in heaven come through Jesus – the one who paid the penalty for our sins. The one who died and rose again and lives forevermore!

This Easter – let us celebrate the fact that Jesus rose from the dead and changed our lives and our world forever!