Can you imagine what it would have meant if Jesus Christ had not risen from the dead?  There would be some very important things that we would never know.

For instance…

• Was He actually the Son of God, or just another man?
• Was His death sufficient to take away our sins?
• Do we have any hope of a resurrection ourselves?

We would forever be left wondering about these things, and probably a whole lot more.

But!

Christ has been raised from the dead!  He appeared to Mary Magdelene (John 20:11 – 18), then to two travelers (Luke 24:13 – 31).  He then appeared to His disciples (Luke 24:36 – 43).  He even appeared to more than 500 of the brethren at one time (1st Corinthians 15:6).

Because He was raised from the dead…

• He was powerfully declared to be the Son of God.

Paul, a servant of Christ Jesus, called to be an apostle, set apart for the gospel of God, which he promised beforehand through his prophets in the holy Scriptures, concerning his Son, who was descended from David according to the flesh and was declared to be the Son of God in power according to the Spirit of holiness by his resurrection from the dead, Jesus Christ our Lord…  Romans 1:1 – 4 ESV

• We know His sacrifice was sufficient to deal with our sins.

 … who was delivered up for our trespasses and raised for our justification. Romans 4:25  ESV

• We have the hope of being raised from the dead ourselves.

But in fact Christ has been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep.  For as by a man came death, by a man has come also the resurrection of the dead.  For as in Adam all die, so also in Christ shall all be made alive.  But each in his own order: Christ the firstfruits, then at his coming those who belong to Christ.  1st Corinthians 15:20 – 23 ESV

Let us, therefore, lift up our voices with angels and archangels and the saints of all ages, as together we loudly proclaim

Christ has died!

Christ has risen!

He has risen indeed!

Hallelujah!

MD