Risen and Returning

By rising from the dead, Jesus accomplished what had (and has) been impossible for every other human in history. And by doing so, He conquered death and the grave.

And the fact that Jesus overcame death, also means that He is still alive!

1 The Resurrection

By rising from the dead, Jesus proved His claims that He is the Son of God. The following passage is just one example of how Scripture is validated by Christ’s resurrection:

John 2:19-21

However, as is the case today, there were many in Jesus’ day, who could not rationalize, and therefore couldn’t accept the fact that He indeed rose from the dead.

While most secular and Jewish historians agree on Jesus’ crucifixion, that’s not the case with His resurrection.

There are still many who both deny and discount the resurrection. And the reason, is because they are unable to rationalize anyone overcoming death, since it is not something anyone else has ever experienced.

Sociologists have developed a term for that kind of thinking, calling it “methodological naturalism”. That speaks of when one looks at everything through only natural and explainable causes.

When the person is unable to find what they consider a rational and explainable answer to an event or happening, they often become dismissive or discount its validity.

In the case of Jesus, the Jewish leadership were concerned that if the people believed Jesus had risen from the dead, then they would lose their positions of authority.

Therefore, when the leaders learned of the empty tomb, they bribed the soldiers tasked with guarding the tomb, and promoted a false narrative:

Matthew 28:1-15

In that passage, we see two groups of individuals with marked differences in their reaction to the resurrection:

• The women who were followers of Jesus, reacted with joy when they heard the news of His resurrection.
• However, the Jewish leadership were truly His opponents. And as such, their desire was to deny the resurrection by concocting a story that the Lord’s disciples had taken and hidden His body.

Those unbelieving opponents were shortsighted in that they never considered the eternal aspects of their actions, or that they (and all who reject Christ) would/will experience eternal punishment:

Revelation 20:11-15

The apostle Paul was clear, that if Jesus did not rise from the dead, then His followers are the most pitiable of people:

1 Corinthians 15:14-17

But just a few verses later, Paul was compelled to make it clear that Christ is indeed risen:

1 Corinthians 15:20-22

The fact that Jesus defeated death, was for the benefit of those who’ve placed their faith in Him.

Everyone without Christ is spiritually dead, which points to the need for spiritual birth, to be made alive in Jesus.

2 He is Returning

Jesus didn’t only tell His disciples that He would be arrested, crucified, die, and rise again, but He also told them He would return.

The early church lived in great anticipation of Jesus’ soon return.

Unfortunately, because He hasn’t returned over the last two-thousand years, many believers have even stopped anticipating His return.

However, because His return hasn’t taken place over the period of time, doesn’t mean it won’t take place.

The Bible says that Jesus will come quickly and unannounced, to “snatch” the church away, in what is commonly referred to as the rapture:

1 Corinthians 15:52

The rapture isn’t the Second Coming, since Jesus will not physically touch the earth at the rapture, but the church will be caught up to meet Him in the air and will be brought to heaven.

After the rapture, there will be a time of great tribulation upon the earth, which will last for seven years.

Despite the darkness of those days, there will be some who will come to salvation, however, Scripture states that they will be put to death for their new faith in Christ.

The Second Coming of Christ will end the Tribulation, and the Lord will physically return to Jerusalem, setting up an earthly kingdom for one thousand years.