Resurrection and Reality: The Truth That Transforms Everything

By Joel Settecase | The Think Institute*

Easter is one of those days that can feel strangely disconnected from the rest of the year. It’s full of pastel colors, bunny decorations, and candy eggs—symbols we kind of know are supposed to mean something, but we’re not exactly sure what.

It’s not that the symbols aren’t meaningful. I mean, one of them is the bunny, who springs out of its hole like Jesus springing from the grave. Another is the Easter egg. Those originate from Christians saving their eggs during Lent and eating them after Easter, and they also remind us of the stone tomb—a chick emerges from the egg like Jesus came out of the tomb. And what about the plastic basket grass in your kids’ Easter baskets? I’ve got nothing. That’s not anything.

But here’s the deal: Easter isn’t about bunnies or eggs. It’s about the resurrection of Jesus Christ. And when we talk about that, we’re stepping into territory that raises some massive questions:

Did the resurrection actually happen?
Why did it need to happen?
And what does it mean for us today?

But I’ll tell you the truth: Easter isn’t about bunnies or eggs. It’s about the resurrection of Jesus Christ. And when we talk about that, we’re stepping into territory that raises some massive questions:

Did the resurrection actually happen?
Why did it need to happen?
And what does it mean for us today?

These aren’t just theological curiosities. They’re freedom questions. Because in a world obsessed with independence and autonomy, where we don’t want to be told what to do or how to live, the resurrection gives us something far better than self-determination. It gives us actual freedom—the kind that can only come from God.

Let’s walk through 1 Corinthians 15 and tackle those three questions. Because as Paul says here, the resurrection of Jesus isn’t a symbol, a metaphor, or a myth. It’s a fact. And it’s the fact that sets us free.

Question 1: Did It Actually Happen?

This question is everything. Because if it didn’t happen—if Jesus stayed dead—then Christianity collapses.

Andy Rooney, the longtime CBS commentator, once put it this way:

“Those to whom [God’s] word was revealed were always alone in some remote place, like Moses. There wasn't anyone else around when Mohammed got the word either. Mormon Joseph Smith and Christian Scientist Mary Baker Eddy had exclusive audiences with God. We have to trust them as reporters—and you know how reporters are. They'll do anything for a story.”

Translation: How do we know any of this is true?

Paul answers that head-on. In 1 Corinthians 15:1–11, he gives three lines of evidence for the resurrection:

1. Biblical Prophecy

Paul says Jesus rose “according to the Scriptures” (v. 4). The resurrection wasn’t an unexpected twist; it was God’s plan from the beginning.

Genesis 3:15: God promises that the offspring of the woman would crush the serpent’s head.
Psalm 16:10: “You will not allow your faithful one to see decay.”
Isaiah 53:10: The suffering servant, crushed by God, will see his seed and prolong his days.
Hosea 6:2: “On the third day he will raise us up so we can live in his presence.”

This wasn’t a last-minute rescue operation. The resurrection was the plan from day one.

2. Eyewitness Accounts

Paul doesn’t say, “Just trust me.” He says, “Go ask the people who saw him.”

Jesus appeared to Cephas (Peter), then to the Twelve.
Then he appeared to over 500 people at once—most of whom were still alive at the time Paul was writing.
Then to James (his own brother, who didn’t believe in him during his earthly ministry).
And finally, to Paul himself—who had been an enemy of the church.

That’s not a legend passed down in whispers. That’s a massive group of people—some of them skeptics and enemies—claiming they saw Jesus alive again.

3. Transformed Lives

Peter denied Jesus. James mocked him. Paul persecuted his followers. And then all three of them became leaders in the church, willing to suffer and die rather than deny him again.

What explains that kind of turnaround?

Jesus didn’t just rise and then go hide. He rose and showed himself. He restored. He reoriented. He changed lives. And he still does.

Look around. Every Christian you know is a living testimony to the reality of the resurrection.

Question 2: Why Did It Need to Happen?

If the cross was enough to pay for sin, why did Jesus have to come back?

Because the resurrection isn’t just a bonus—it’s essential. It accomplishes three things:

1. It Vindicates Jesus

If Jesus had stayed dead, we’d still be wondering if his claims were true. But God raised him. That was the divine stamp of approval.

His identity? Confirmed.
His teaching? Validated.
His power? Unmatched.

When Jesus rose, it proved he wasn’t just another religious leader. He’s the Son of God. The Messiah. The King.

2. It Launches the Church

One scholar put it this way: “The appearances of Jesus were the driving force behind the beginning of the church.”

These early Christians didn’t believe in the resurrection because they were gullible. They believed because they were convinced. They saw him, talked with him, ate with him. Even skeptical historians acknowledge that the disciples truly believed Jesus rose. That belief gave birth to the church.

3. It Secures Our Hope

Because Jesus rose, we know our future.

We’re not just planting seeds in a graveyard. We’re planting them in a forest, and we know what they’re going to become. Jesus rose and returned—so we know what lies on the other side of death.

When he rose, he showed us our future. Resurrection isn’t just a concept—it’s a preview.

Question 3: What Does It Mean for Us Today?

Because Jesus rose, three things are now true for you—right now, in the middle of your life, wherever you are and whatever you’re going through.

1. You’re Free to Live for Christ

If death has been defeated, then the most important events of your life are still ahead. That means you’re free to go all-in for Jesus now.

He died to save his people.
You get to go find them.
Your body matters. What you do in this life counts.

2. You’re Free to Trust Christ

Plenty of people make bold claims. Only one rose from the grave to prove them.

Religious leaders come and go. But Jesus is alive. You can trust him—not just with your afterlife, but with your whole life.

3. You’re Free to Hope for the Future

You’re not just surviving. You’re not just hanging in there until you can escape.

You’ve got a future that’s more real than the present. A future with a new body. A new earth. A new everything.

The resurrection means you don’t have to fear death. The worst this world can do to you is kill you—and even that condition is temporary.

So What Now?

The Corinthians needed a mindset shift. They thought the goal was to escape this body. But Paul says no—the goal is resurrection.

Because Jesus rose, you will too.

And that changes everything.

You’re not just enduring life until it’s over.
You’re not just hoping for a spiritual afterlife where you float around like a ghost.
You’re heading toward a full bodily resurrection. Real life. Real freedom.

The fact of the resurrection redefines your present. It reshapes your priorities. It sets you free.

What About You?

If you’re already a follower of Jesus, this is your reality:

Death is a defeated enemy.
Life has eternal significance.
The resurrection guarantees your victory.

That means you are free to live boldly for what matters most: Jesus and his kingdom.

If you’re not yet following him, I hope you’ve seen today that this isn’t just a religious claim—it’s the most important fact in human history. And it’s the key to your future.

Jesus didn’t stay dead. That means judgment is coming. And the only way to stand in that judgment is to be hidden in Christ—to have him pay for your sins.

Hebrews 2:3 asks, “How shall we escape if we neglect such a great salvation?”

You don’t have to try to escape. You can be set free—by the fact that Jesus died, was buried, and rose again, all according to the Scriptures.

That’s the fact that sets us free.

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*This article was adapted by ChatGPT from a sermon I preached in 2018 at Park Community Church, Forest Glen.