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He Is Risen! Celebrating the Centre of History This Easter
By ODMDaily Editorial Team | Easter · Resurrection · Evangelism
“Christianity, if false, is of no importance, and if true, of infinite importance. The only thing it cannot be is moderately important.”
— C. S. Lewis
These words from the great Oxford scholar capture, with piercing clarity, the significance of the central event of all human history: the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. Easter is not a sentimental holiday. It is not about chocolate eggs or bunny rabbits. It is the hinge upon which eternity swings.
If Christianity is false, it is the most elaborate delusion ever conceived — a cruel hoax that has misled billions for two thousand years. But if Christianity is true, it is the most important truth in the universe. There is no middle ground. As Lewis said, the only thing it cannot be is moderately important.
This Easter, we are called not to vague spirituality or cultural observance, but to a bold proclamation: He is risen. He is risen indeed.
The Bold Claims of Jesus of Nazareth
Jesus of Nazareth claimed to be Israel’s longed-for Messiah — the anointed one sent by God to redeem His people. But He did not stop there. He claimed to be the one who would raise those who believed in Him from the dead. He promised that His followers would live in resurrected bodies, in His glorious kingdom, forever.
That is why Jesus said: “I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live” (John 11:25).
These are bold claims. Huge claims. In fact, they are the most audacious claims ever uttered by a human mouth. No other religious leader made such promises. Buddha did not say, “I am the resurrection.” Muhammad did not say, “I will raise you from the dead.” Only Jesus.
But then came the crucifixion.
After Jesus was crucified, His disciples — distraught, disoriented, and devastated — lost all hope. Luke 24:21 records their despair: “We had hoped that he was the one who was going to redeem Israel.” Past tense. Had hoped. Their hope was dead, buried in a borrowed tomb.
Their question was brutal and urgent: How could a dead man be “the resurrection and the life”? Dead men don’t do anything, let alone raise others from the dead.
The Resurrection Is the Linchpin of the Christian Faith
This is why the resurrection is the linchpin of the Christian faith. Without it, everything collapses.
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No Messiah.
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No resurrection of believers.
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No coming kingdom.
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No forgiveness of sins.
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No hope beyond the grave.
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Nothing.
The apostle Paul, writing to the Corinthian church, puts it with brutal honesty:
“If Christ has not been raised, then your faith is useless… all who have died believing in Christ are lost!” (1 Corinthians 15:17–18)
Not weakened. Not diminished. Useless. Lost.
Paul understood that Christianity stands or falls on a single historical event: the empty tomb. If Jesus remained dead, then He was a liar or a lunatic — not Lord. His promises were empty. His death was meaningless. And we are still in our sins, with no hope of forgiveness and no expectation of eternal life.
But if Jesus did rise from the dead, then everything changes. His claims are validated. His death is effective. His promises are certain. And our hope is secure.
The Historical Evidence for the Resurrection
As astounding as it might sound to modern ears, Jesus’ resurrection is as certain a fact as any other historical event. The evidence is not wishful thinking or blind faith. It is grounded in verifiable, cross-examined, early testimony.
Consider the following facts, accepted by the vast majority of historians — including skeptical ones:
Fact 1: Jesus died by crucifixion. This is not seriously disputed. Roman executioners were professionals. They knew how to confirm death. The spear thrust into Jesus’ side, producing blood and water (John 19:34), is consistent with medical evidence of death.
Fact 2: His tomb was found empty within days. The Gospel accounts record that women were the first witnesses. In first-century Jewish culture, the testimony of women was considered legally inferior. If the disciples had fabricated the story, they would never have invented women as the primary witnesses. The empty tomb is one of the most firmly established facts of ancient history.
Fact 3: Multiple witnesses saw Jesus alive after His death. The apostle Paul, writing within 20 years of the event, provides a creedal summary in 1 Corinthians 15:3-8 that dates to within 3-5 years of the crucifixion itself. In it, he lists appearances to Peter, to the Twelve, to more than 500 brothers at once (most of whom were still alive when he wrote, inviting cross-examination), to James (the skeptical brother of Jesus), to all the apostles, and finally to Paul himself.
Fact 4: The disciples were transformed from fearful cowards to bold martyrs. Before the resurrection, they hid in fear. After the resurrection, they stood before the same authorities who had killed Jesus and declared, “We cannot stop speaking about what we have seen and heard” (Acts 4:20). Most of them died brutal deaths for this claim. People do not die for what they know to be a lie.
Fact 5: Skeptics converted. James, the half-brother of Jesus, was a skeptic during Jesus’ earthly ministry (John 7:5). After the resurrection, he became a leader of the Jerusalem church and was martyred for his faith. Paul (Saul of Tarsus) was a violent persecutor of Christians. After encountering the risen Jesus on the road to Damascus, he became Christianity’s greatest missionary and theologian, enduring imprisonment, beatings, shipwreck, and eventual execution. Neither had any psychological or social reason to convert. Both lost status, safety, and family approval. The only credible explanation is that they genuinely believed they had seen the risen Christ.
These facts are not theological opinions. They are historical data. And the best explanation for them is the one that Christians have proclaimed for two thousand years: Jesus rose from the dead.
The Resurrection Changes Everything
Jesus’ resurrection is not a footnote in history. It is the central event around which all of history turns.
It means Jesus is the Messiah. The one promised by the prophets, the anointed King who will reign forever. His resurrection is God’s definitive declaration: “This is My beloved Son. Listen to Him.”
It means His kingdom and our resurrection are certain. If Jesus rose, then His promise to raise His followers from the dead is trustworthy. Death is not the end. The grave is not a final resting place — it is a doorway.
It means God’s love for us is proven. Romans 5:8 declares: “God demonstrates his own love for us in this: while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” The cross is not a symbol of defeat. It is the ultimate proof that God is willing to go to the farthest extreme to rescue His children.
It means our sins are forgiven. Paul writes in 1 Corinthians 15:17: “If Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile; you are still in your sins.” The converse is also true: because Christ has been raised, we are no longer in our sins. The debt is paid. The verdict is overturned. The prison door is open.
It means we have hope beyond the grave. The resurrection is not just something that happened to Jesus. It is something that will happen to all who belong to Him. As Paul writes in 1 Thessalonians 4:14: “For since we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so, through Jesus, God will bring with him those who have fallen asleep.”
Easter Is an Opportunity to Share the Risen Saviour
Easter is not only a time for personal celebration. It is a unique opportunity to share the risen Saviour with others.
Consider this remarkable statistic: 40% of Australians say they would attend a church gathering if invited by a trusted friend or family member. That is not a small number. That is millions of people who are open to an invitation.
This is hardly surprising, given that over 40% of Australians still identify as Christian. The openness is there. The hunger is there. The need is there. What is often missing is the simple act of invitation.
To rephrase evangelist Michael Harvey, let us pray this powerful question this Easter season:
“Lord, this Easter, is there someone you want me to connect with outside the church?”
Ask it daily. Ask it expectantly. And when the Lord brings someone to mind — a neighbour, a colleague, a family member, an old friend — reach out. Invite them to church. Invite them to coffee. Invite them to a conversation about the meaning of Easter.
You do not need to be a theologian. You do not need to have all the answers. You just need to be willing to share what you have seen and heard — just like the first disciples.
A Free Resource: 10 Reasons to Believe Easter Really Happened
To equip you in sharing the risen Christ, we have curated a powerful resource by Kurt Mahlburg. The short brochure “10 Reasons to Believe Easter Really Happened” is perfect for:
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Handing to friends and family
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Placing in letterboxes
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Putting on church noticeboards
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Leaving on office desks
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Sharing on social media
This free resource is based upon a longer Daily Declaration article and presents the evidence for the resurrection in clear, accessible, bite-sized points. It is designed for the person who is curious but skeptical, open but uncertain.
Download this free resource today and begin sharing the wonderful news of Easter with everyone you meet.
God Is on the Move: Signs of Revival
As we enter this special season between Easter and Pentecost, we are not just looking back at history — we are looking forward to what God is doing right now.
Be encouraged: God is on the move and is building His Church.
Did you know that, after decades of decline, church attendance in Australia has measurably increased over the past five years? This is not a fluke. It is not a statistical anomaly. It is evidence of an increased hunger in our chaotic, post-modern world for truth and reality.
People are tired of the emptiness of secularism. They are exhausted by the constant churn of identity politics, the loneliness of digital connection without community, and the despair of a worldview that offers no ultimate meaning. They are looking for something solid, something true, something that can anchor their souls in a storm.
The resurrection of Jesus is that anchor.
Soon, we will turn our attention to GO Month — a time of increased prayer and evangelism between Easter and Pentecost. During GO Month, we are encouraging believers to pray for five specific people who do not yet know Christ. Pray for them daily. Look for opportunities to share. Trust the Holy Spirit to open doors.
If 40% of Australians are open to an invitation, the potential for harvest is enormous. But the workers are few. Will you be one of them this Easter?
The Centre of History
Yale University historian Jaroslav Pelikan put it so well. He said:
“If Christ is not risen, nothing else matters. And if Christ is risen, nothing else matters.”
The first half of that statement is sobering: if the resurrection is false, then all of Christian faith is a delusion. Nothing else matters because it is all built on a lie.
But the second half is glorious: if the resurrection is true, then nothing else matters — not our failures, not our fears, not our losses, not even death itself. Because if Jesus is alive, then everything that seems so weighty in this world is, in the end, light and momentary.
The resurrection does not make life easy. It does not remove suffering or erase sorrow. But it does give them meaning. It transforms the darkest Good Friday into the brightest Easter Sunday. It takes the worst the world can throw at us and promises that it will not have the final word.
The final word belongs to the risen King.
A Prayer for This Easter Season
Lord Jesus, we thank You that You are not a dead hero in a sealed tomb. You are the risen Lord, alive forevermore, seated at the right hand of the Father, interceding for us. Forgive us for the times we have lived as if the resurrection did not matter — timid, silent, and hopeless. Renew our confidence in the empty tomb. Fill us with the boldness of Peter, the passion of Paul, and the faithfulness of the countless witnesses who have gone before us. This Easter, show us the person You want us to reach. Give us the words to speak and the courage to speak them. Let the good news of the resurrection spread across this nation like fire. We ask it all in the mighty name of the risen King. Amen.
Final Encouragement for ODMDaily Readers
This Easter, let us not settle for a lukewarm, cultural observance. Let us not reduce the resurrection to a metaphor or a feel-good story. Let us proclaim and celebrate the central event of all history — the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ — with joy, with confidence, and with urgency.
The empty tomb tells us that nothing else matters.
Not our political victories or defeats. Not our financial successes or failures. Not our reputations or our embarrassments. Not even our most devastating losses.
Because if Christ is risen, then everything that is broken will be mended. Everything that is lost will be found. Everything that is dead will live again.
He is risen. He is risen indeed.
May God bless you, your family, and your friends abundantly during this special season.
Yours for the infinite importance of the risen Christ,
The ODMDaily Editorial Team
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Free Resource Download:
Click here to download “10 Reasons to Believe Easter Really Happened” — a free brochure by Kurt Mahlburg, perfect for sharing with friends, family, and neighbours this Easter season.
Suggested Discussion Questions for Small Groups:
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Before reading this article, had you considered that the resurrection is the most important event in all of history? Why or why not?
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Which piece of evidence for the resurrection do you find most compelling? Why?
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How would you respond to someone who says, “All religions are basically the same”?
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The article states that 40% of Australians would attend church if invited. Why do you think so many people are open but not attending?
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Is there someone specific the Lord is bringing to mind as you read this? What is your first step toward inviting or sharing with them?
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How can your small group or church participate in GO Month between Easter and Pentecost?
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