In the gloom of Good Friday, the disciples could only read: “Jesus defeated!” But in the bright light of Easter morning, the glorious truth of Jesus’ resurrection shone into their despair.

I grew up in a Christian home, and I’ve been to many Easter celebrations in my lifetime. My father was a preacher, and he was a good teacher, but I did not have a full understanding of the priority of the Resurrection until I was a second-year student in seminary.

The Nazareth Inscription is a powerful piece of extrabiblical evidence that Christ’s Resurrection was already being proclaimed shortly after He was raised. It is a marble tablet, 24 inches (61 cm) by 15 inches (38 cm), written in the Greek language. Since the discovery was published in 1930, no scholar has produced evidence to disprove its authenticity. It’s an abridged decree by Emperor Claudius (AD 41–54), pronouncing the death penalty in Israel for anyone caught robbing bodies from tombs.

"He died on the cross, shedding His own blood for each and everyone buried in a tomb of sin; but on the third day, You raised Him to life. And Father we know that if we confess our sins and repent and believe on the Name of Your Son the Lord Jesus Christ, we shall be saved. And Father, it’s my prayer tonight that many people this Easter would turn from their sins and by faith believe on the Name of your Son."

It's always about a lamb—a substitute. The blood on the doorposts was the sign that a death had already occurred in that house and the penalty for sin had been meted out, allowing the wrath of God to be turned away. The cross is the sign that payment has been made for sin, because the Lamb of God has taken our punishment upon Himself.

Think about those around you who have not made a decision for Christ. Think about your mom or dad, your brother or sister, your neighbor, your co-worker. Tell me—are they worth it?

As the day of Jesus’ appearing approaches, it’s critical that you know for sure that you belong to Jesus and possess eternal life.

Hebrews 12:2 says, "Who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame." Who, getting crucified, has any joy? Jesus did—He had a certain joy that enabled Him to endure that horrible, ignominious death. And you, reading this, are the joy that was set before Him.

Have you ever pondered over the striking paradox that the Messiah, the mighty ruler, was also prophesied to be a man of sorrows in Isaiah 53? Why was the expected deliverer, portrayed as the suffering servant?

The evidential nature of Christianity provided it with a unique advantage. The resurrection, locked in the timeline of history and documented by eyewitnesses, distinguished Christianity from every first-century religious claim in the Roman Empire, and continues to do so today. 

I have called it, “The week that changed the world.” The events of holy week should be contemplated often by every follower of Christ. It began with Palm Sunday as Jesus publicly presented Himself as Messiah. The week concluded with His resurrection.

Jesus personally chose 12 disciples whom He poured Himself into. These men could almost be considered His earthly family, surrounding Him, learning from Him, and serving in His ministry. Jesus loved them, and yet He knew—long before they did, in fact—that a couple of these men would publicly betray Him.

The 66 books in the Bible tell a story, a narrative. There is a plot with a story of promise and fulfillment, and it all points to Jesus.

I live with no fear or worry about my eternal existence, because Jesus became flesh and died for my sins. In doing that, He destroyed the true power of death—the death of the soul.

As God’s Son, God’s only Son, the Son He loved, hung on the Cross, the knife of God’s fierce wrath against sin was lifted, and there was no one to stay the Father’s hand.

When you read the Old Testament with Jesus in mind, everything is different. It’s impossible to miss it. We realize the Hebrew Scriptures are more than a collection of stories; they present the portrait of the coming Messiah.

We can learn a lot from a man on a cross. This individual’s name is only known to God. We find this man—a criminal sentenced to death—hanging beside Jesus in Luke 23:39-43.

She was an outcast. She was a damaged good. She was rejected. But because of her love and dedication to Jesus, we all know about Magdala today.

If Jesus was not raised from the dead, Christianity isn’t true, no one makes it to heaven, and this life is all there is. It’s every man for himself. Christianity stands or falls with the resurrection of Jesus Christ.

What possible benefit could either the Roman or the Jewish leaders have gained by stealing Jesus’ body, furthering the belief in his resurrection and triggering the greatest movement in rebellion against their power?

For those who call on the name of Jesus as Savior and Lord—like my grandfather—death is now the friend that opens the door and introduces us to eternity with Jesus in Heaven.