With Easter rapidly approaching, it would be good to take some time to reflect on the importance and evidence behind that first Easter day...the resurrection of Christ.

Christians from east and west, north and south, and everywhere else in between, should be encouraged that the ultimate crux of Christianity lies not in the cross, but rather in the resurrection. As Paul makes clear to the Corinthians, "And if Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile; you are still in your sins. Then those also who have fallen asleep in Christ are lost. If only for this life we have hope in Christ, we are to be pitied more than all men" (1 Cor 15:17-19).

One can see how Christianity stands or falls on the power of the resurrection. It's not that we disregard Christ's atoning death on the cross for mankind. Such an act leads us to weeping and shouting! But, in the bigger picture, the cross was a step towards something greater - the resurrection and ascension of the Son of God back to the righthand of the Father that He might now be in charge of all things (Matt 28:18;Eph 1:18-23).

Dr. Simon Greenleaf (1783-1853), Royal Professor of Law at Harvard University in America, was declared at the time by the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of America to be the greatest authority on legal evidences who ever lived. Greenleaf turned his studies to the evidence concerning the resurrection of Christ. His findings were recorded in his book, "An Examination of the Testimony of the Four Evangelists by the Rules of Evidence Administered in the Courts of Justice." He examined in depth the evidence for the resurrection of Christ and concluded that in any unbiased courtroom inthe world, if the evidence for the resurrection of Christ were presented, it would be declared as an absolute historical fact. He also held that there is more evidence supporting the historical fact of the resurrection of Jesus Christ than for just about any other event in history. Some conclude there iseven more evidence for Christ's resurrection than evidence that Julius Caesar ever existed. Pretty astounding!

Of course, we must not forget the testimony of the historically and archaeologically accurate document, the Bible, which gives the testimony that Christ appeared to some 500 people over a period of 40 days:

·  Mary Magdalene (Mark 16:9-11; John 20:11-18)

·  Mary, mother ofJames and Joseph (Matt 28:1, 9-10)

·  Two disciples on the road to Emmaus (Luke 24:13-32)

·  Peter (Luke 24:34; 1 Cor 15:5)

·  Ten disciples in the upper room (Luke 24:36-43; John 20:19-25)

·  Later eleven disciples in the upper room (John 20:26-31; 1 Cor 15:5)

·  Seven disciples fishing (John 21:1-23)

·  Eleven disciples on a mountain (Matt 28:16-20)

·  The disciples at the ascension (Luke 24:44-49; Acts 1:3-8)

·  More than 500 hundred followers (1 Cor 15:6)

·  James, brother of Jesus (1 Cor 15:7)

·  Paul (Acts 9:1-19; 1 Cor 9:1; 15:8)

What we, as followers of Christ, standon is solid ground. Though we have all of this historical data, we still must be moved in our hearts by the Holy Spirit to receive this truth that changes our lives and makes us new creations. And this is the Easter message we believe – that the Son of God, who put on a body of flesh and gave His life at the cross to bring mankind back into relationship with the Father, was raised by the power of the Spirit (Rom 8:11) and has ascended back to the Father to pour out His Holy Spirit to create new life in us!

The resurrection has been the key, has been the truth, and has changed lives for 2000 years. And God will be pleased to continue for another 2000 years, if needed, to change our own lives. This is the message of not only Easter, but that Christ’s resurrection power is available to us everyday of our lives.