Christus Victor: The Resurrection Is Personal
Christus Victor: The Resurrection Is Personal
John 3, 19 Luke 23
Easter, April 20th, 2025
Christmas celebrates God coming down in the flesh as the baby Jesus. The God of the Bible says you can’t reach me so I will come down to you.
Easter is a 2-part celebration. Part 1: Jesus died on a cross to pay the penalty for our sins and to break the power of sin in our lives. Part 2: Jesus resurrects from the dead to break the power of death and to unite us with God our Father, now and later.
All resurrections are personal. The life story of each resurrected person is unique… and yet each story has some universal characteristics.
Here are my 3 presuppositions for today’s message…
Everyone lives and makes decisions based on their personal faith system.
Any honest interaction with Jesus will cause you to reevaluate what you believe and how you live.
Jesus makes a way for all of us to experience a resurrection but He leaves the decision to us.
Nicodemus
John 3:16 (NIV) For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.
Nicodemus came as a curious skeptic. Jesus can work with that.
Christianity isn’t a religion to adhere to but a person to know and follow. Until you see Jesus as a person, you won’t find Jesus as the answer. Jesus doesn’t mind curious skeptics because they end up believers and followers!
You can’t find the answer to life until you realize you don’t have one; an answer or a life.
Luke 23:39 (NIV) 39 One of the criminals who hung there, hurled insults at him: “Aren’t you the Messiah? Save yourself and us!”
Luke 23:40-43 (NIV) 40 But the other criminal rebuked him. “Don’t you fear God,” he said, “since you are under the same sentence? 41 We are punished justly, for we are getting what our deeds deserve. But this man has done nothing wrong.” 42 Then he said, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.” 43 Jesus answered him, “Truly I tell you, today you will be with me in paradise.”
It’s never too late to not give up.
All resurrections are personal but each one follows this path…
Confess your need for Jesus.
Give Him your life.
Receive His life.
Luke 24:4-6 (NIV) 4 While they were wondering about this, suddenly two men in clothes that gleamed like lightning stood beside them. 5 In their fright the women bowed down with their faces to the ground, but the men said to them, “Why do you look for the living among the dead? 6 He is not here; he has risen!
Stop looking for life in dead places. The one who raises you to life is the same one you can trust with your life. Jesus doesn’t just save your life from death, He changes your life into real living. A Whole life filled with power and purpose. All resurrections are personal.