The importance of the resurrection of Christ has an impact on our service to the Lord now. Paul ends his discourse on resurrection with these words: “Therefore, my dear brothers and sisters, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain” (1 Corinthians 15:58). Because we know we will be resurrected to new life, we can endure persecution and danger for Christ’s sake (verses 30–32), just as our Lord did. Because of the resurrection of Jesus Christ, thousands of Christian martyrs through history have willingly traded their earthly lives for everlasting life and the promise of resurrection. New Testament historian Bart D. Ehrman writes that it can't be known what happened to Jesus's body; he doubts that Jesus had a decent burial, [101] and also thinks that it is doubtful that Jesus was buried by Joseph of Arimathea specifically. [102] According to Ehrman, "what was originally a vague statement that the unnamed Jewish leaders buried Jesus becomes a story of one leader in particular, who is named, doing so." [103] [note 10] Ehrman gives three reasons for doubting a decent burial. Referring to Hengel and Crossan, Ehrman argues that crucifixion was meant "to torture and humiliate a person as fully as possible," and the body was normally left on the stake to be eaten by animals. [105] Ehrman further argues that criminals were usually buried in common graves; [106] and Pilate had no concern for Jewish sensitivities, which makes it unlikely that he would have allowed Jesus to be buried. [107] She has been a long-time advocate of the meditative practice of Centering Prayer and has worked closely with fellow teachers and colleagues including Thomas Keating, Bruno Barnhart, and Richard Rohr. Cynthia has actively participated in numerous inter-spiritual dialogues and events with luminaries and leaders such as A.H. Almaas, Kabir Helminski, Swami Atmarupananda, and Rami Shapiro. Mary Magdalene went to the disciples with the news: “I have seen the Lord!” And she told them that he had said these things to her (John 20:15-18). The belief in the resurrection by Jesus's early followers formed the proclamation of the first ekklēsia (lit. "assembly"). [160] [161] The "visions of the resurrected/exalted Christ" reinforced the impact Jesus and his ministry had on his early followers, [162] and interpreted in a scriptural framework they gave the impetus to Christ-devotion [163] and the belief in the exaltation of Jesus. [10] [164] Jesus's death was interpreted in light of the scriptures as a redemptive death, being part of God's plan. [165] The subsequent appearances led to the resumption of the missionary activity of Jesus's followers, [6] [12] with Peter assuming the leadership role in the first ekklēsia (which formed the basis for the Apostolic succession). [166] [167]

For almost two millennia, the story of Jesus has shaped the lives of countless people. Yet today, even though the majority of us grew up in a culture suffused by the mythos of Jesus, many of us feel disconnected from the essence of his teachings. With Resurrecting Jesus, Adyashanti invites us to rediscover the life and words of Jesus as a direct path to the most radical of transformations: spiritual awakening. Therefore my heart is glad and my tongue rejoices; my body also will rest secure, because you will not abandon me to the realm of the dead, nor will you let your faithful one see decay” ( Psalm 16:9-10).The Apostle Paul taught that the resurrection is the glorious centerpiece to all the banqueting table of redemptive history. The resurrection is of necessity the gravitational force of divine Truth that holds eternity-past and eternity-future together as one single plan of God. How important is the resurrection of Jesus of Nazareth, the Messiah? The teaching of the resurrection begins in the Old Testament. It is not a novel conspiratorial concept concocted in the minds of desperate disciples after the crucifixion of Jesus. Resurrection has been prophesied, taught, and anticipated, just as Jesus said.

Géza Vermes notes that the story of the empty tomb conflicts with notions of a spiritual resurrection. According to Vermes, "[t]he strictly Jewish bond of spirit and body is better served by the idea of the empty tomb and is no doubt responsible for the introduction of the notions of palpability (Thomas in John) and eating (Luke and John)." [129] Romans 1:3–4: "...concerning his Son, who was descended from David according to the flesh and designated the Son of God in power according to the Spirit of holiness by his resurrection from the dead, Jesus Christ our Lord". [42] As they were on their way, there were some members of the guard who went into the city and reported to the chief priests everything that had happened. 12 After the chief priests had assembled with the elders and had reached a decision, they gave a large sum of money to the soldiers 13 and said, “You are to say, ‘His disciples came at night and stole him away while we were sleeping.’ 14 If the governor hears about it, we will satisfy him and keep you out of trouble.” 15 After the soldiers took the money, they did as they were instructed. And this story has been repeated among the Jews until this day. “Go and Gather Disciples” The resurrection of Jesus Christ is also important because it validates who Jesus claimed to be, namely, the Son of God and Messiah. According to Jesus, His resurrection was the “sign from heaven” that authenticated His ministry (Matthew 16:1–4). The resurrection of Jesus Christ, attested to by hundreds of eyewitnesses (1 Corinthians 15:3–8), provides irrefutable proof that He is the Savior of the world.

Jesus is “the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep” (1 Corinthians 15:20). In other words, Jesus led the way in life after death. The resurrection of Jesus Christ is important as a testimony to the resurrection of human beings, which is a basic tenet of the Christian faith. Unlike other religions, Christianity has a Founder who transcends death and promises that His followers will do the same. Every other religion was founded by men or prophets whose end was the grave. As Christians, we know that God became man, died for our sins, and was resurrected the third day. The grave could not hold Him. He lives, and He sits today at the right hand of the Father in heaven (Hebrews 10:12). For the Christian tradition, the bodily resurrection was the restoration to life of a transformed body powered by spirit, [web 3] as described by Paul and the Gospel authors, that led to the establishment of Christianity. In Christian theology, the resurrection of Jesus is "the central mystery of the Christian faith". [2] It provides the foundation for that faith, as commemorated by Easter, along with Jesus's life, death and sayings. [3] For Christians, his resurrection is the guarantee that all the Christian dead will be resurrected at Christ's parousia (second coming). [4] The absence of any reference to the story of Jesus's empty tomb in the Pauline epistles and the Easter kerygma (preaching or proclamation) of the earliest church has led some scholars to suggest that Mark invented it. [note 12] Allison, however, finds this argument from silence unconvincing. [120] Most scholars believe that the Gospel of Mark and the Gospel of John contain two independent attestations of an empty tomb, which in turn suggests that both used already-existing sources [121] and appealed to a commonly held tradition, though Mark may have added to and adapted that tradition to fit his narrative. [122] Empty tomb and resurrection appearances [ edit ]