JESUS

• Jesus is true. The life, death and resurrection of Jesus of Nazareth are very well documented by multiple writers in the New Testament, some of whom knew Jesus well. Others were among those who later died for their faith in him. (Jesus was also referred to, though far less fully in various non-Christian sources).
• In his life on earth, Jesus was in so many ways an utterly unique and deeply impressive person, including his closeness to God as his Father, his character, his complete integrity, his goodness, his compassion, his extraordinary spiritual perception into the human heart, his ethical teaching, and his phenomenal miraculous works – and for over two thousand years, Jesus has continued to inspire and transform people of every place and culture.
• The New Testament gives witness to Jesus as the Messiah, God-with-us, the only Son of the one true God, the image of the invisible God, the Word made flesh, Risen Lord, Saviour of the world.

The CROSS of Jesus…

• The death of Jesus is arguably the most famous and inspiring death in all history.
• Jesus was totally innocent, and his brutal physical suffering and spiritual agony were completely undeserved.
• After intense wrestling in prayer, Jesus submitted himself to the Cross.
• Jesus’ death makes possible our reconciliation with God. Jesus died as a spotless atoning sacrifice, for all the sin and evil of a lost and wayward humanity. The righteous died for the unrighteous (1 Peter 3:18). Jesus took the penalty of our sin, and in exchange we gained His righteousness (2 Cor. 5:21). We receive God’s atonement, forgiveness, and grace through faith in Jesus (Romans 3:25).
• Jesus’ death was not the end, but a prelude to what was about to happen.

The RESURRECTION of Jesus…

• Jesus’ resurrection changes so much!
• Jesus’ lifeless body had been wrapped in burial clothes and laid in a sealed tomb, with armed guards outside.
• On the third day, at dawn, Jesus was gloriously raised from the dead by the infinite power of God, who made this whole universe.
• The empty tomb! A group of women found the tombstone rolled back, and no guards present. Peter and John came and found the tomb empty, but when they saw how the grave clothes were lying, they “saw and believed” (John 20:8). The empty tomb was an enduring silent witness to the reality of the Resurrection.
• Multiple encounters with the Risen Lord! Mary was the first person to meet the Risen Lord. Over the next six weeks, there were appearances of the Risen Jesus to many, many people: to individuals, to groups of disciples, and to at least one large crowd. People walked, talked and ate with the Risen Lord, touched his wounds, and received his teaching. See, for example, John 20-21, Luke 24, Acts 1:3, Acts 15:1-20.
• The Resurrection of Jesus was God’s powerful declaration that Jesus is indeed the one and only divine Son of God (Romans 1:4), and Saviour of the world (Acts 4:10-12). In the Resurrection, Jesus was completely vindicated.
• After six weeks, the disciples saw Jesus ascend to his glory at the right hand of God the Father, from where he shall one day return in power and glory, to judge the living and the dead, abolish evil, suffering, and death, and make all things new.
• The Resurrection of Jesus is the only reason why Christianity and the church ever began, and the only reason how – despite enormous odds and opposition – faith in Jesus has spread to the very ends of the earth, through the power of the Holy Spirit which was first poured out on the day of Pentecost.
• The Resurrection of Jesus is the guarantee that those united with him by faith shall themselves enter eternity with God and the life of the Resurrection (John 3:16, 11:25, 20:31).

Author: Dr Stuart Lange

Dr Stuart Lange is the National Director of the NZCN and is a Senior Research Fellow at Laidlaw College, where he was formerly Vice Principal. Stuart wrote and presented the historical DVD documentary Te Rongopai: 200 years of the Gospel in New Zealand, 1814-2014.