Is it important to you that 

Jesus was raised to life?

YES. And not just because it provides a happy ending to the Easter Story!

Jesus' horrific death on the cross had hundreds of witnesses. A Roman soldier checked He was dead before they buried his body. But on the third day He was not simply given breath again. He had a NEW body, unlike any other. He chose to keep the scars of His crucifixion as signs of His love, proving His identity to hundreds of eye-witnesses, but He could now walk through walls, and even shine with a blinding light (Acts 9:3-9, 1 Cor. 15:6-8). Jesus had conquered death.

Just a few weeks earlier, Jesus famously called Lazarus’ existing, dead body to life (John 11:1-44). We have probably also heard testimonies of Heidi Baker or others healing the sick and supernaturally raising the dead (YouTube). Here we see God's amazing, miraculous power at work through His body (Eph. 1:19-23) but these stories do not yet tell of the same kind of glorious, new body as Jesus’. Well, Jesus is God, I hear you say. Yes, but He is also still a man, and Paul tells us that His experience will be ours, too:

For if the dead are not raised, then Christ has not been raised either. And if Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile; you are still in your sins. Then those also who have fallen asleep in Christ are lost. If only for this life we have hope in Christ, we are to be pitied more than all men.

But Christ has indeed been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep. For since death came through a man, the resurrection of the dead comes also through a man. For as in Adam all die, so in Christ all will be made alive. But each in his own turn: Christ, the firstfruits; then, when he comes, those who belong to him. Then the end will come, when he hands over the kingdom to God the Father after he has destroyed all dominion, authority and power. (1 Cor. 15:16-24)

It is because Jesus was raised, and because we believers are in Him, that we can hope for a physical resurrection when He returns and establishes His kingdom on earth. 

I was recently struck by how personal and real this hope can be, rather than just an ethereal “one-day” fancy. In 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18 Paul teaches on the resurrection of the dead in relation to our loved ones who are no longer alive with us. He tells us that because of Jesus’ promises we don’t need to be like those who don’t have any hope: Jesus will bring back our believing family and friends with Him!

I’ve been reading the biography of Geraldine Taylor, the daughter-in-law of the China Inland Mission’s founder. Whilst serving in rough conditions for years in rural China, she saw too many missionaries’ children die, including two of her unborn babies. Her only hope was her Lord Jesus’ trustworthiness. I was really touched by the tender, faith-filled comfort she offered another couple decades later:

My tears flow with yours. Oh, if only I could be with you today to try and tell you of our love and sympathy. […] ‘The gifts and calling of God are without repentance.’ He called you to be a father, a mother; He gave you a precious little daughter. This can never be gone back upon. You are parents; the little one is yours for ever. He is keeping her for you, far more perfectly and safely than you could have kept her. And He will give her back to you when Jesus comes. (Mrs. Howard Taylor, p. 124)

The resurrection of the dead, following the Author of our Faith, our Saviour, and our King, is also about family in Jesus’ kingdom. Jesus tells us that we belong to each other, too. Jesus has taught us to love and serve each other as He has loved us (John 13, 15). Paul writes: “there is one body and one Spirit, just as you have been called to one glorious hope for the future” (Eph. 4:4).

In the resurrection, we’re not alone forever with Jesus, but together we will form a kingdom of priests reigning on the earth with Him (Rev. 4:9-10). The corporate Bride He’s longing for is actually a city shining with myriads of different personalities and cultures (Rev. 21:9-10)! We’ll even recognize each other in our resurrected bodies, together enjoying eternal freedom from sorrow, sin, sickness, and satan, and we’ll LOVE each other, in the light of the glory of our Resurrected King.