True selected chapters cropped - Flipbook - Page 15
The bodily resurrection of Christ on that first Easter Sunday
validates and confirms his claim to be the Son of God. The
resurrection also confirms his words and promises to humanity.
Jesus spoke of blessings in this life and eternal life in the next.
We can be sure of being with God after this life because Jesus
promises it, his resurrection makes it believable and possible.
Knowing Jesus means experiencing life to the full in this
world and the next. Jesus came for that purpose.
Because we believe in the resurrection something important
follows. Jesus is a living presence, not just a person in a book. It is
not enough to know the story of Jesus. We may begin that way, but
we move on to meeting him. The Christian life is not the life of a
person who knows about Jesus, but the life of a person who knows
him. There is all the difference in the world between knowing
about a person and knowing a person. Most people know about
the President of the United States of America, but few actually
know him. The resurrection of Jesus makes Christianity unique.
There is no one like Jesus Christ – he is unequalled, unusual and
remarkable. Knowing Jesus means experiencing life to the full in
this world and the next. Jesus came for that purpose. Know Jesus –
know life! No Jesus – no life!
Jesus’ death has purpose
Jesus Christ gave up his life willingly. He allowed his life to be
taken. He was in control, although the people responsible for his
death thought that they were.
While Jesus hung on the cross he cried out those incredible words,
‘It is finished!’ He immediately breathed his last, gave up his spirit
and died. It was a cry of victory: ‘I have done it!’ He accomplished
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