If you’re a Christian whose origins sprung up in Europe around the 1500s give or take a century, or whose denomination name includes Roman, chances are the crucifixion of Jesus reigns supreme in your mind. Some of your crosses still have Him on them.
I’m from such a group. The crucifixion of Jesus is our prime real estate. It’s where Jesus traded places with me, giving me a hall pass that allowed me to skip the exam, much like my son getting to choose pass/fail this semester at college thanks to Mr. Covid.
Christianity hinges on the crucifixion of Jesus. Without it, everyone’s problem remains unaddressed and unresolved.
But.
When it comes to giving people hope for all the big and little deaths they face, it’s the resurrection of Jesus that delivers possibilities infinite.
Every sermon in the book of Acts culminates with the craziness of the resurrection because with no resurrection, Jesus’ claims of being really God become really false. Fakery at its finest.
The resurrection of Jesus reverses personal histories. It offers hope especially when your friend realizes she, too, gets a resurrection.
Our current bodies will only last so long. Some of us are parsing this reality even as I type.
We’d all love bodies new and improved, with no void dates.
That’s where the resurrection of the body rings true. That’s what your neighbor is really longing for.