04/04/2026
The Resurrection of Jesus Christ
by TXYS Chaplain Chet Collins
On Sunday, April 5, 2026, we, along with Christians all over the world, will celebrate the glorious resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christâthe greatest event in human history.
The Bible tells us that by one man, Adam, sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for all have sinned (Romans 5:12). Because of that sin, we owed a debt that we could not pay. Yet Jesus was willing to pay a debt He did not owe.
That sin which entered the world through Adam and Eve brought not only physical deathâwhere the body grows old, becomes sick, and diesâbut also spiritual death, separating man from God not only in this life, but for all eternity (Isaiah 59: 1,2).
The Bible says that God looked for someone to stand in the gap, but there was no manâno perfect sacrifice, no one without sin who could pay the debt we owed
Because Godâs justice and holiness could not allow sin to enter that beautiful place called heaven, the Bible says His own arm brought salvation (Isaiah 59:16).
While we were yet sinners, Christ died for us, and we are now justified by His blood (Romans 5:8â9). As it is written, âall have sinned, and come short of the glory of Godâ (Romans 3:23).
âThe wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lordâ (Romans 6:23).
We must realize that there is nothing we can do to deserve or earn heaven. We cannot become good enough. Only Jesus can save us.
As the Bible says, âGod was in Christ, reconciling the world unto Himselfâ (2 Corinthians 5:19).
âFor by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: not of works, lest any man should boastâ (Ephesians 2:8â9). There is nothing we can do to earn or deserve salvationâJesus Christ paid the price.
That is why the resurrection is so beautiful, it authenticates what the cross did for us.
In I Corinthians 15: 16-21, Paul said if Christ was not raised, then we are all dead in our sins and perished and life would be miserable without the truth of eternal life with Christ. But then he goes on to say Christ did rise from the dead and made resurrection available to us.
Before His crucifixion, Jesus told His disciples that the Son of Man would be rejected by the elders, chief priests, and scribes; that He would be killed; and that after three days He would rise again. Though they did not fully understand His words at the time, they would later come to see them fulfilled in power and truth (Matthew 16:21).
After Jesus died on the cross, Joseph of Arimathea, a wealthy man and a disciple, boldly requested Jesus' body from Pilate. Receiving permission, he took the body of Jesus, wrapped it in a clean linen cloth, and laid it in his own new tombâa tomb hewn from rock. A large stone was rolled across the entrance, sealing it in place. Stones of this kind were heavy, making them extremely difficult to move (Matthew 27:57â62).
Concerned by Jesusâ earlier statements about rising after three days, the chief priests and Pharisees approached Pilate and requested that he secure the tomb. Pilate granted their request, and the tomb was made secure with Roman authority. A seal was placed upon the stone, marking it as officially guarded, and soldiers were stationed there to watch over it. Breaking the seal or failing in their duty would result in harsh consequences and possible ex*****on. Humanly speaking, the tomb was secured as tightly as possibleâguarded, sealed, and protected against any attempt to tamper with it or steal the body (Matthew 27:62â66).
But on the third day, something supernatural took place. The stone was not rolled away by men, but by the power of God. When Mary Magdalene and the other women came to the tomb with spices, hoping to find someone to move the stone, they discovered it already rolled away. Angels appeared and declared that Jesus was not there, for He had risen just as He had said (Matthew 28:1â6).
The women were filled with both fear and great joy as they hurriedly ran to tell the disciples (Matthew 28:6â10). Although their testimony was initially met with disbelief, the risen Christ would appear on and off for 40 days until His ascension
(Acts 1:3,9). He appeared to Peter, affirming him; then to James; and to the other apostles, correcting their unbelief (Mark 16:9â15).
In these appearances, Jesus revealed Himself in a fully physical body, yet a body not bound by the limitations of ordinary human existence. He could appear and disappear, even in closed places, yet He could also be seen, touched, and recognized (Luke 24:30â40).
About 20â25 years after the resurrection, the Apostle Paul wrote that when Jesus rose from the grave, He appeared over many days and to more than five hundred brethren at once, many of whom were still alive at the time these words were written, serving as living witnesses to His resurrection (1 Corinthians 15:1â6).
Paul himself testified that he had seen the risen Christ, and his testimony, along with that of so many others, affirms that this event was not hidden but publicly attested by many eyewitnesses (1 Corinthians 15:8).
Matthew also wrote a phenomenal event that after Jesus' resurrection, even the graves of many of the saints who had died were opened, and they arose and were seen alive in the city, further confirming the extraordinary nature of what had taken place (Matthew 27:52â53). Another proof that we can know Jesus will resurrect all believers to eternal life.
The resurrection of Jesus stands as the divine validation of His death on the cross. It declares that His sacrifice for sin was accepted and that death itself has been conquered. Because He lives, we have assurance that those who trust in Him will also live.
As Scripture teaches, âif the Spirit of Him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, He that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by His Spirit that dwells in you (Romans 8:11).
