At church today we responded to the minister when he stated, “He is risen!” by saying back, “He is risen, indeed!” We are talking about Jesus who rose alive from the tomb that He had been placed in 3 days earlier.
Here are 10 reasons that show that this really happened :
1. Mary Magdalene, in the midst of her abounding grief and loss of Jesus dying, went to the tomb where Jesus had been buried and was astonished to find it empty.(John 20:11-18). Had she expected Him to have risen her surprise wouldn’t have been recorded.
2. Peter and John hadn’t joined the dots, either, that Jesus would rise again and ran to the tomb when they heard what Mary had to say about the tomb being empty. They, too, thought somebody had stolen Jesus' body (John 20:2,9).
3. Writers of the account of Jesus’ resurrection were sheepish about their disbelief that He would rise again.
4. The grave clothes had been undisturbed (John 20: 6-7). People who steal bodies don’t go to the trouble of arranging grave clothes neatly. Besides, previously the disciples had seen the dead body of Lazarus emerge from his tomb and he had remained well wrapped in cloths.
5. The Old Testament promises had compellingly taught about Jesus rising from the dead.
6. There were numerous encounters of the risen Christ with followers before He returned to heaven.
7. Martyrs don’t die for a cause that they have fabricated.
8. The Church grew rapidly after the ascension of Jesus. If the account had been untrue, the movement would have collapsed.
9. We have the testimonies of millions of Christians who have met Jesus in the pages of the Scriptures.
10. Paul had spent his life trying to destroy the spread of Christianity. He had famously done a backflip when Jesus appeared to him on the road to Damascus. Paul went on to preach about Jesus risen: “Christ has indeed been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep” (I Cor. 15:20).
Because Jesus rose your eternity is assured. Think about these words in the Easter hymn:
1 Jesus Christ is ris'n today, Alleluia! our triumphant holy day, Alleluia! who did once upon the cross, Alleluia! suffer to redeem our loss. Alleluia!
2 Hymns of praise then let us sing, Alleluia! unto Christ, our heav'nly King, Alleluia! who endured the cross and grave, Alleluia! sinners to redeem and save. Alleluia!
3 But the pains which he endured, Alleluia! our salvation have procured; Alleluia! now above the sky he's King, Alleluia! where the angels ever sing. Alleluia!
4 Sing we to our God above, Alleluia! praise eternal as his love; Alleluia! praise him, all ye heav'nly host, Alleluia! Father, Son, and Holy Ghost. Alleluia!
(From https://hymnary.org/text/jesus_christ_is_risen_today_our_tri accessed 17.4.22)