No Life without Jesus

Billy Graham once told TIME magazine, "If I were an enemy of Christianity, I would aim right at the Resurrection, because that is the heart of Christianity."

If Jesus Christ has not been raised from the dead, We are wasting our time. The truth of the matter is, if Jesus Christ is still dead, Chocolate Bunnies make more sense than the Cross.

A little six-year-old boy complained to his mother that he had a stomach ache and his mother said, "That's because your stomach is empty; you would feel better if there were something in it." Well, that afternoon the pastor stopped by for a visit, and the little boy said, "Preacher, how are you feeling?" He said, "Well, my head hurts." The little boy said, "Well, that's because it's empty; you'd feel better if there were something in it."

Well, preaching is empty without a risen Savior.

If Jesus Christ has not been raised from the dead, your witness is worthless.

"Yes, and we are found false witnesses of God, because we have testified of God that He raised up Christ, whom He did not raise up--if in fact the dead do not rise." 1 Corinthians 15:15

Let me ask you some questions.

How many of you would say that Jesus Christ has changed your life?

How many of you would say that Jesus Christ lives in your heart?

How many of you would say that you have a living, breathing, personal relationship with Jesus Christ?

Now listen carefully. If you answered Yes and Jesus is dead, you just lied. Now I don't mean to be offensive, but you are guilty of spiritual perjury if Jesus Christ has not been raised from the dead.

But not only is Jesus a liar, but that means Matthew, Mark, Luke, John, the twelve disciples, and the Apostle Paul were all liars. That is the problem with a dead Christ; we must forfeit our message.

You see what gives meaning to the birth of Jesus Christ is the life of Jesus Christ.

Life is just an exercise in futility; a dead-end street that winds up in the pothole of death and despair if Jesus Christ has not been raised from the dead.

As much as I marvel at the virgin birth of Jesus; as much as I wonder at the sinless life of Jesus; as much as I glory in the cross of Jesus; it is the resurrection of Jesus that makes Christianity unique among all of the world religions. Confucius died and he was buried. Lao-tzu, the father of Taoism wandered off into the wilderness and died with his water buffalo. The Buddha rotted away with food poisoning. Muhammad died in 632 and his body was cut up and spread all over the Near East.

But Jesus Christ is risen from the dead. On that single statement hinges the only hope of the human race, both in this life and in the life to come.

A Buddhist in Africa was converted to Christianity. They asked this Buddhist why did you change your faith? Here's what he said: "It's like this: If you are walking along and came to a fork in the road and two men were there, and one was dead and the other was alive, which man's directions would you follow?"

That really is the question. You have the right and you have the freedom to choose a dead Muhammad, a dead Lao-tzu, a dead Buddha, a dead Confucius.

Later Jesus appeared to the Eleven as they were eating; he rebuked them for their lack of faith and their stubborn refusal to believe those who had seen him after he had risen.Mark 16:14

I say loudly and I say proudly I choose to follow the only One who is raised from the dead and lives forever and His name is Jesus Christ.