Christ is risen! He is risen indeed! We recite these beautiful words and celebrate the miraculous event of the resurrection every year, but do we ever stop to think about what physical changes occurred in the body of Jesus as he was raised to life again? As a science-minded person, I was awestruck as I recently read Paul Tripp’s vivid description of our Savior’s resurrection:
“Consider with me the magnificence of the resurrection of Jesus. He was in the tomb long enough to be certifiably dead. Dead. Rising again after death meant that the synapses in his brain suddenly began to fire; electric charges fired through his nervous system; the muscles in his heart started to pump; fresh blood coursed through his veins; his muscles suddenly became soft and flexible; his organs turns on and functioned in symmetry with one another; his eyes became moist and able to focus; he suddenly could breathe, smell, taste, and feel. His balance and orientation returned. His ability to relate and communicate instantly turned on. Thoughts and desires, plans and purposes suddenly rushed in. This is but a limited summary of everything that had to happen all at once for Jesus to be able to get up, fold his grave cloths, and walk alive out of that tomb” (Do You Believe?, 169).
Isn’t that amazing? Resurrection power is at the heart of the Christian faith. If these details are not true, then Christians are of all people most to be pitied (1 Corinthians 15:19). The Christian faith without the resurrection of Jesus is useless and powerless, but because of the resurrection of Jesus, the same resurrection power that raised Jesus from the dead can bring life to our spiritually dead bodies. The Bible teaches that before salvation we are dead (Ephesians 2:1). Certifiably dead. We are not looking for God or reaching for God or deserving of God's rescue in any way. We are completely lifeless and without hope (Ephesians 2:12). However, thanks to the resurrection of Jesus, the two most hopeful and beautiful words in the Bible exist: But God.
“But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ—by grace you have been saved—and raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus” (Ephesians 2:4-6).
Jesus was dead and buried. But God.
We were dead and hopeless. But God.
Because of the resurrection of Jesus, we can have life—true, eternal life that is found only in Christ. God removes our dead heart of stone and gives us a new heart of flesh that beats for him in the power of his Spirit (Ezekiel 36:26-27). We are raised to life to live for him and with him forever. Praise be to God for his resurrection power! Christ is risen! He is risen indeed! We can live because he lives!
Resurrection Sunday Reading:
Matthew 28:1-15
Mark 16:1-14
Luke 24:1-49
John 20:1-23
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