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“The Lord is risen indeed” (Luke 24:34). “He [Jesus] was delivered over to death for our sins and was raised to life for our justification” (Romans 4:25).

Yesterday all around the world the joy-filled truth was proclaimed, “The Lord is risen!” These words were first uttered by the two men who had encountered the risen Christ on the road to Emmaus. Ever since it’s been a declaration of faith that can too easily become a mere cliché on Easter. But it's not a cliché; the Lord is risen indeed!

The word for “indeed” is translated “true” or “really” in many other versions. The actual underlying Greek word is “ontos” (those who studied philosophy may recall the word “ontology”, which is the study of existence and reality).

“He is risen indeed". These four words express the very bedrock of Christian faith; the literal, bodily resurrection of Jesus Christ is a genuine, historical event validated by many eyewitnesses. It is the core doctrine of the faith once for all entrusted to the church of Jesus Christ for all time.

Reading the New Testament we easily observe the emphasis on the death and resurrection of Christ in the early church. Each gospel ends with this glorious truth and it is a recurring theme through the preaching in Acts and is an oft repeated theme in the epistles. It is powerfully affirmed in the Bible's final book of Revelation. “Fear not, I am the first and the last, and the living one. I died, and behold I am alive forevermore" (Revelation 1:17,18).

Years after the resurrection a mightily transformed Peter reminds his readers, “We did not follow cleverly invented stories when we told you about the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but we were eyewitnesses of His majesty".

But today there are many who consider the message of the resurrection of Jesus Christ nonsense. You likely know people who do and there are a number of them who are very forthright in their disbelief, even mocking those who do believe.

C.N Hostetter wrote, “When people have problems with miracles it is not because miracles are unbelievable. The problem is that they have an inadequate view of God".

What is your view of God? Do you believe the literal, bodily resurrection of Jesus Christ is a myth or a historical fact? How does this view impact the way you live your life? For the disciples, many who had some initial struggles in their belief, it resulted in a life-transforming change illustrated by Peter who stood on the Day of Pentecost and boldly proclaimed, “But God raised Him from the dead, freeing Him from the agony of death, because it was impossible for death to keep its hold on Him” (Acts 2:24).

I ask you again how does this view of the literal resurrection impact your life? Would you be willing to be persecuted or to lay down your life rather than forsake this Biblical teaching? I was struck as I read through the book of Acts that Paul was often brought before the officials with this very charge, including his appearance before the Sanhedrin, “…concerning the hope and resurrection of the dead I am being judged” (Acts 23:6b).

Today let us wholeheartedly serve the risen Lord. Let us walk in the power of His resurrected life so that we triumph over evil, boldly assert Biblical doctrine, and cast our hope beyond the grave to eternal life and our own bodily resurrection.

B e encouraged today! Hebrews 3:13