Jesus Is Who He Said

Easter is almost here! However, I really prefer to call it Resurrection Day. It is not just a Spring celebration. Nor is it about eggs and bunnies, it is about the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead.

This morning I read from Romans 1:1-4,

Paul, a servant of Christ Jesus, called to be an apostle, set apart for the gospel of God, which he promised beforehand through his prophets in the holy Scriptures, concerning his Son, who was descended from David according to the flesh and was declared to be the Son of God in power according to the Spirit of holiness by his resurrection from the dead, Jesus Christ our Lord, (ESV)

The resurrection was God's declaration, His monument, if you will, that Jesus Christ is the Son of God. Jesus had stated on several occassions that He would die and be raised back to life (see John 2:18-22 and Matt 16:21). Jesus had declared that He had the authority to lay His life down and to take it up again.

For this reason the Father loves me, because I lay down my life that I may take it up again. No one takes it from me, but I lay it down of my own accord. I have authority to lay it down, and I have authority to take it up again. This charge I have received from my Father.” John 10:17-18 (ESV)

The resurrection proved that Jesus was who He said He was! Since His teachings about Himself are true, then we need to take seriously His requirements for being His disciple.