Matthew 27:57-66; Mark 15:42-47; Luke 23:50-56; John 19:38-42; Matthew 28:1-8; Mark 16:1-8; Luke 24:1-12; John 20:1-13; Matthew 28:9-15; Mark 16:9-11; John 20:14-18; Mark 16:12-13; Luke 24:13-49; John 20:19-31; Matthew 28:16-20; Mark 16:14-18; John 21:1-25; Mark 16:19-20; Luke 24:50-53; Acts 1:1-11

If all Jesus accomplished was to die, then He is simply like every other person who lived. Even then, if His death was sacrificial for others then Jesus stands in the midst of a stellar group of heroes. Some heroes are laid in magnificent tombs where we can go to honor them. Others rest in sublime settings that evoke contemplation. All have “final” resting places befitting their deeds. All except Jesus.

The gospel is not Jesus’ life of good works and mighty, wondrous works woven together with wise sayings and spiritual truth. The gospel is not the cruel, yet sacrificial death that He died. The good news is that Jesus is Risen from death and His death, burial and resurrection open the way of salvation for even the most sinful people who are willing to turn to Him and obey.

“He is Risen”. Three simple words presented in remarkable understatement. Quite similar to “And they crucified Him”. If the Jews and the Romans had succeeded in taking His life from Him Satan would win and every human would lose. God would be thwarted and His power would be exposed as limited. “He is Risen” changes history and the eternal destiny of mankind.

Now after the Sabbath, toward the dawn of the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to see the tomb. And behold, there was a great earthquake, for an angel of the Lord descended from heaven and came and rolled back the stone and sat on it. His appearance was like lightning, and his clothing white as snow. And for fear of him the guards trembled and became like dead men. But the angel said to the women, “Do not be afraid, for I know that you seek Jesus who was crucified. He is not here, for he has risen, as he said. Come, see the place where he lay.

Matthew 28:1-6

The earthquake and the rolling away of the stone was not to let Jesus out, it was to let us in. Jesus was buried while dead and life returned to His body in the grave. If death could not hold the Christ, surely bedrock could not. But, in the final accounting what does it really mean to me?

In the natural realm death comes to all people. In the spirit realm sin comes to all and spiritual death results. A death is required for sin. Only a sinless sacrifice could provide a substitutionary death. Jesus was without sin and died in our place.

In the natural realm the soul departs the body at the point of death and will be raised to stand before God in judgment. The body decays and returns to dust. The soul is immortal. Without atonement for sin, the soul will be banished to hell for eternity. Jesus is the atoning sacrifice for sin.

In the natural realm there is no resurrection of the body from death to life. In His supernatural resurrection Jesus won the victory over sin and death. By His resurrection I can share in the victory and have new life.

Now I would remind you, brothers, of the gospel I preached to you, which you received, in which you stand, and by which you are being saved, if you hold fast to the word I preached to you—unless you believed in vain. For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received: that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures,

1 Corinthians 15:1-4

The saving gospel is as simple as it is profound. Death, burial and resurrection. In repentance (change of mind from sin to God) and the good confession (change of lordship self to the Christ) we die to sin and self. In baptism (immersion in water, by faith) we are buried with the Christ into His death. As new life came to Jesus in the grave, so too new life comes to the repentant believer in the grave. In resurrection by the power of God that raised Jesus from death, we are raised to walk in new life a saved child of God forgiven of sin.

The notion that baptism is a work of men defies both scripture and logic. When a dead body is buried does it bury itself? Did Jesus remove His lifeless body and place it in the tomb or did Joseph of Arimathea and others? On Pentecost, Peter commanded that the believers repent and “be baptized” for forgiveness of their sins. Think clearly and logically. Literally it means, “have yourself baptized”.

So, the instructions by the Holy Spirit found in scripture are:

• YOU hear the message and YOU believe
• YOU repent and YOU confess Jesus as Lord and Christ
• HAVE YOURSELF baptized
• GOD will raise you to new life.

In all of this “process” of death, burial and resurrection your “works” are hearing, believing, repenting and confessing. The “work” done by another (the spiritual undertaker) is baptism and the working of God is resurrection.

having been buried with him in baptism, in which you were also raised with him through faith in the powerful working of God, who raised him from the dead.

Colossians 2:12

Without death and burial there simply is no resurrection. Resurrection necessarily follows death and burial. Those who claim that salvation (resurrection) PRECEDES baptism teach that you die, are raised to new life, are then buried alive in baptism and raised another time. They are at odds with what happened to Jesus. New life came to Jesus IN the grave.  Jesus was NOT raised twice.

This concept of salvation is also simply at odds with the clear teaching of Jesus.

And he said to them, “Go into all the world and proclaim the gospel to the whole creation. Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned.

Mark 16:15-16

Those who claim baptism (burial) follows salvation (resurrection) have Jesus saying, “Whoever believes and is saved should be baptized”. Read it carefully. Jesus said “Whoever believes and is baptized shall be saved.” Salvation follows from baptism.

Death, then burial, then resurrection. Exactly what happened to Jesus. Exactly what Peter taught on Pentecost. Exactly what Paul taught. And, exactly what happened to Saul of Tarsus before we knew him as Paul. He was taught…

‘Now why do you delay? Get up and be baptized, and wash away your sins, calling on His name.’

Acts 22:16

Paul’s sins were not washed away and THEN he was baptized. New life came to him in the grave just as with Jesus, 3000 on Pentecost, you and me. Folks, there are plenty of reasons to NOT be baptized for the forgiveness of your sins. There is only one reason TO be baptized for forgiveness … because God says so in Jesus’ death, burial and resurrection.

He is Risen! Am I? Are you?

Consider His nature.  Consider His ways.  Strive to love Him more!