Is it Important to Believe in Jesus’ Bodily Resurrection?

Today we celebrate the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead. Christians have celebrated this event for almost 2000 years. It is a festival date in the church year and one of the few times people will enter a church (the term "Holly and Lilly Crowd" indicates the two dates people consider making an appearance. The Roman Church at one time indicated that a Christian, at minimum, would attend services on Christmas and Easter).

But since the mid 1800's some Christians have begun to call into question the historical veracity of the resurrection. Liberal theologians have maintained that whether Jesus rose from the dead or not is of little importance; what is important is Christ's message.

So let's look at this issue. Is the message of Christ more important than his resurrection?

Many who espouse the message over the resurrection look at the morality Jesus preached. In and of itself this morality makes Christianity no different than any other religion which spells out do's and don'ts for its adherents. In effect, each person must strive for perfection to save himself or herself.

But let's look at Jesus' message. To be certain Jesus preached morality. But this morality was in context with the Mosaic Law. The Ten Commandments seemed to speak about actions; Jesus probed further to thoughts and words. While we might no physically kill another person, we are just as guilty of murder if we stand by and do nothing as one is being attacked. We are also guilty if we harbor feelings of hatred and rage, or a sense of disownment in our neighbor's welfare. In the end, the Law as Jesus explained it could only highlight our futility in keeping it.

Let's look at some other words Jesus said. He told his disciples that "the Son of Man must be handed over to be crucified and on the third day rise from the dead." On another occasion the Pharisees had asked for a sign. Jesus told them the only sign they would get was the "sign of Jonah." By this he explained that as Jonah was three days in the belly of the fish, he himself would be in the earth and then rise again. Another time Jesus said "destroy this temple (his body) and in three days I will raise it up again." Do you think the Jewish leaders didn't understand what Jesus was talking about? Then look at Good Friday, after Jesus was entombed, and their request to have the tomb sealed and Roman soldiers posted as guards. They knew full well what Jesus was talking about-and that this was a Messianic sign!

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