The Best News Ever Heard
Mark 16:1–7
You seek Jesus of Nazareth, who was crucified. He has risen. Mark 16:6
The resurrection of Jesus Christ is the best news the world has ever heard because it is true; it came after an apparent defeat; it proves many important things; and finally, it calls for a lifesaving response from each of us.
1. It is true. It is possible to have reports of events that sound like good news but later prove to be disappointments because the facts of the reports are wrong or because the events did not actually happen. That was not the case with news of the resurrection of the Lord. It is true, and as truth it is one of the most amazing and important facts in history.
2. It came after an apparent defeat. When Jesus died, his friends were plunged into sadness. It was an apparent defeat. But, then, on the third day he rose again. When Jesus died, men might have cried, “Christ is defeated; evil has triumphed; sin has won!” But after three days, the fog lifted, and the message came through to this world: “Jesus has risen; Jesus has defeated the enemy.”
3. It proves many important things. It proves there is a God and that the God of the Bible is the true God. It proves the deity of our Lord, and thus that God loves you and came to be a ransom for your sins. It proves that all who believe in Jesus Christ are justified before God, because God showed through the resurrection that Christ was sinless and that he accepted his Son’s atonement. The resurrection of Jesus Christ also proves that the believer in Christ can have a supernatural victory over sin in this life, for Jesus lives to provide the supernatural power to do it. Finally, the resurrection is also evidence for our own resurrection and of a life with Jesus in glory beyond the grave.
4. It calls for a lifesaving response in faith from each of us. Have you responded in faith to this one who died for you and rose again? There is some news that is by its very nature restricted. It applies to one or two individuals, but not to everybody. A promotion is good news to the man who receives it but not for the two or three others who failed to get the job. Almost all human news is restricted. But the good news of the resurrection is for all.
Have you heard the good news? Have you believed it? Have you trusted in the risen Lord? This is the heart of Christianity. It is not found in the liturgies of the churches, nor in the specific formulations of Christian theology, important as they may be. Christianity is Christ, the risen Christ. He died and rose again for you. Will you not come to him?
Taken from Come to the Waters by James Boice ISBN 9798887790954 used with permission from P&R Publishing, Phillipsburg NJ 08865
Scripture quotations are from the ESV (the Holy Bible English Standard Version) copyright 2001 by Crossway a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. All rights reserved.