God places an enormous importance on the subject of resurrection in the Bible. It’s mentioned time and time again, and because of that I believe we should actively incorporate the truth about resurrection in culture.
Jesus was buried in “the heart of the earth for three days and three nights” (Matthew 12:40). Then God raised him from the dead because he was righteous, without fault before God. The Bible says “death could not hold him” (Acts 2:24) because of he had not sinned. Death you see, is the result of disobedience to God which the Bible calls, “sin.”
The Bible teaches that resurrection is the only way out of the grave once someone has died. Jesus Christ was bodily raised from the dead, as witnessed by not only his disciples and apostles but by over 500 brethren at once (I Corinthians 15:6).
When Jesus appeared to some disciples who were in a boat after his resurrection, they thought he was a spirit. But he said, “a spirit doesn’t have flesh and bone as you see I have.” It was a bodily resurrection and that shows the pattern of how God will raise everyone eventually. We won’t be spirits floating around, we’ll be resurrected people with a new glorified body (Philippians 3:21).
Resurrection is central to God’s plan. Let’s briefly explore that fact. When Christ comes for the Christian church, the dead in Christ will rise first and then we who are alive and remain will be caught up together with them to meet the Lord in the air (I Thessalonians 4:16-17). It’s not technically called a resurrection, but God raises those who have died in Christ as the Scripture says.
There will be two major resurrections following that (Acts 24:15). There will be the resurrection of the just (Revelation 20:4-5), and then at the end of time, the resurrection of the unjust at the Great White Throne judgement (Revelation 20:12, 14).
Since resurrection is so important, how can we communicate it and embed it in culture? We frequently see crosses incorporated into Christian art because the crucifixion is central to Christian faith. But isn’t it true that the crucifixion without the resurrection is empty? Jesus was crucified, and salvation is available to all because of his death — and resurrection. Without his resurrection we would not have the offer of eternal life. Resurrection is not optional, it is a requirement for those who have died to enter into eternal life.
One way to incorporate crucifixion into Christian work is to place more emphasis on the empty tomb. Jesus didn’t just die on the cross, he got up again! The empty tomb symbolizes that very important and necessary fact. How about incorporating the empty tomb in our Christian art?
Our Christian songs can include more about resurrection. Let’s emphasize the fact that Jesus has risen and he is our living Lord and Savior right now; the emphasis being on “LIVING Lord and Savior.” I’d like to know your thoughts and ideas on how we can better emphasize resurrection in our Christian works. The more people know about resurrection, the less ground our adversary has to promote things like reincarnation. Think about it.
Let’s take the offense here and speak more and more about Jesus’ resurrection and the coming resurrections that God has promised will indeed occur.
Please leave your suggestions in the comment box on how to best emphasize the resurrection in our Christian arts, products and when we speak to others about our Christian faith. Thank you and God bless you in Jesus’ name.