Did you know Jesus is alive?

Many people have heard that Jesus was crucified, but not so many know that after three days He rose from the dead.  Yes, JESUS IS ALIVE!  This is what makes the Christian faith unique.  Christianity us not a religion about a person who is dead.  It is a relationship with a person who lives. And Easter is the time when we especially remember that ‘Christ is risen’ (1 Corinthians 15:20).

Everything about Jesus Christ tells us that He is a unique person:

· He was born of a virgin – no human father involved!

· He lived a perfect and sinless life.

· He could heal any disease.

· He raised people from death.

· He walked on the sea.

· He fed thousands of people with a few loaves and fish.

· He could forgive sins.

· He claimed to be equal with God.

All these facts point to the truth that Jesus is the Son of God.

And yet on the first Good Friday the Lord Jesus Christ died.  On that day mob rule replaced simple justice in Jerusalem.  The crowd screamed for His death and the Roman Governor, Pontius Pilate, proved too weak to resist the pressure.  Jesus was brutally beaten then crucified and left to die.  Hours later the Roman soldiers confirmed that He was truly dead.

Jesus had often told His disciples that He was going to die.  The Bible tells us the reason why He allowed it to happen – ‘Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures’ (1 Corinthians 15:3).  That is a vital part of the Easter message.  Sin separates us from God and means that we justly deserve His eternal punishment. However, Jesus died for our sins so that we could be forgiven.  The slate can be wiped clean!  That’s good news!  But there is more...

Easter not only reminds us that Jesus dies but that ‘He rose again the third day according to the Scriptures’ (1 Corinthians 15:4).  His body was taken from the cross and laid in a new tomb.  A large stone was rolled across the entrance and soldiers were set to guard the body.  Despite this Jesus rose from the dead on the first Easter Sunday.  Hundreds of witnesses saw Him after the resurrection and were convinced that the same Jesus who died on the cross had been raised to life again.  The apostle Peter declared ‘This Jesus God has raised up, of which we are all witnesses’ (Acts 2:32).

The Lord Jesus Christ overcame death and in so doing so proved that His claim to be the Son of God was true – He was ‘declared to be the Son of God with power... by the resurrection from the dead’ (Romans 1:4).

The Bible tells us that, because Jesus died for our sins and rose again, ‘He is also able to save to the uttermost those who come to God through Him’ (Hebrews 7:25).  If you are prepared to repent of your sins and to trust the Lord Jesus Christ as your Saviour, you can have the assurance that your sins are forgiven and that you have eternal life.  Because Jesus Himself conquered death, He is able to offer eternal life to all who put their faith in Him.  Jesus said ‘He who hears My word and believes in Him who sent Me has everlasting life, and shall not come into judgement, but has passed from death to life’  (John 5:24).

For further help or information contact The Open-Air Mission by email oamission@btinternet.com   or write to the address on the ‘Contact’ page.