Table of Contents
Happy Easter!
I know, it’s almost Christmas. But that’s why I want to remind you that the purpose of Jesus’ birth was His death and resurrection. Without the resurrection, Christmas has no value.
As we go through the various Christmas-related events with our families, friends and churches, remember that the resurrection is the real reason for the season. If Jesus did not rise from the dead, we would not be celebrating Christmas.
Is Easter More Important Than Christmas?
Paul emphasized the importance of Jesus’ resurrection like this:
Now if Christ is preached, that he has been raised from the dead, how do some among you say that there is no resurrection of the dead? But if there is no resurrection of the dead, neither has Christ been raised. If Christ has not been raised, then our preaching is in vain, and your faith also is in vain. Yes, we are also found false witnesses of God, because we testified about God that he raised up Christ, whom he didn’t raise up, if it is so that the dead are not raised. For if the dead aren’t raised, neither has Christ been raised. If Christ has not been raised, your faith is vain; you are still in your sins. Then they also who are fallen asleep in Christ have perished. If we have only hoped in Christ in this life, we are of all men most pitiable. 1 Corinthians 15:12-19*
Apparently there were some who were teaching the church a materialistic view of the gospel. The idea that there is no resurrection was a relic from the doctrines of the Sadducees (Acts 23:8, Matthew 22: 23-33). Materialism1 is still one of the strongest doctrines of the enemy, combining with many other false beliefs to corrupt belief in Jesus.
Paul’s message to the Corinthian church is that without the supernatural power of the resurrection of Jesus Christ, there is no reason to be a Christian, all hope of eternal life is lost.
The Resurrection Proved Jesus is the Son of God
While angels proclaimed to the shepherds that Jesus was the Christ (Luke 2:11), and told Mary and Joseph that He was the Son of God (Luke 1:35, Matthew 1:20), Paul told the church in Rome that the resurrection declared Jesus to be the Son of God:
…who was declared to be the Son of God with power, according to the Spirit of holiness, by the resurrection from the dead, Jesus Christ our Lord… Romans 1:4
Jesus explained to the disciples the importance of His death and resurrection, and that it would be their central message:
He said to them, “Thus it is written, and thus it was necessary for the Christ to suffer and to rise from the dead the third day, and that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in his name to all the nations, beginning at Jerusalem. You are witnesses of these things.” Luke 24:46-48
The resurrection of Jesus was the single truth that made Paul’s imprisonment unusual to the Romans. Festus, the governor, pointed to it as Paul’s single assertion:
When the accusers stood up, they brought no charges against him of such things as I supposed; but had certain questions against him about their own religion, and about one Jesus, who was dead, whom Paul affirmed to be alive. Acts 25:18-19
Festus knew Jesus had been crucified, it was in the Roman Empire’s records. But the idea that He was alive again is what set Paul at odds with both Jewish and Roman authorities.
Born to Die and Rise Again
The whole Christmas season points to the fact that the baby whose birth we celebrate will grow up to die for our sins, and be resurrected for our justification. (Romans 4:24-25) Without the truths of Easter, why celebrate Christmas?
What Should We Do?
Last week I challenged you to use your pandemic mask to reach others with a message. Here’s my newest mask message:
I will wear this message through the rest of the Christmas season. When others ask about the unseasonal message, I can tell them the real reason for Christmas.
Two days ago in the hardware store, the clerk pointed out my message to another clerk behind the counter. My response was simple: “Without Easter, we don’t have Christmas.” They both acknowledged the truth of what I said. I paid for my items and left, but their thoughtful looks made me believe they were thinking about it as I walked out the door.
Will you wear an Easter mask for Christmas? Tell me about the conversations in response to your mask messages in the comments.
By His calling, in His strength,
Dean
P.S. A couple years ago I taught a men’s group about looking at Christmas through Easter. Some men from that group still respond to “Merry Christmas” with “Happy Easter!”
I created a list for that lesson that cross-referenced the Christmas traditions with scriptures about the crucifixion and resurrection so they could review them with their families. If you want to share the connections, or study them with your family, click here to sign up for my newsletter and download the list: Viewing Christmas from Easter
Sign up for our email newsletter and receive updates on my new book, The Story Farm.
Our first book, Families from the Beginning: Your Family, God’s Design, is available in paperback or Kindle on Amazon. (The Kindle version is currently FREE!)
Follow this link to see a preview: Families from the Beginning sample.
*All Scripture quotations in this article are from the World English Bible (WEB).
Pop-up scripture references are from the New King James Version (NKJV).
1the doctrine that nothing exists except matter and its movements and modifications; a theory that physical matter is the only or fundamental reality and that all being and processes and phenomena can be explained as manifestations or results of matter
