In our culture, it’s easy to think of Easter as another holiday that is celebrated once a year and then put behind us. We put away the decorations and we start thinking about the next season. We’ve become used to Easter as a holiday rather than what it truly is: a commemoration of the greatest event in history.

This Easter weekend, we began a new series at Alive Church titled The Case for Christ. In part one, I explored the evidence that Jesus Christ lived on Earth, died on the cross and rose again to give us life.

To truly believe the accounts of Jesus’ life, death and resurrection is no light task – in fact, doing so requires us to place ourselves outside of our culture’s expectations and standards. It requires us to take Jesus seriously.

Despite what we may hear about Jesus, there is historical evidence that proves He was not a myth nor simply a role model for good morals. In the Bible—which is accepted by scholars as a collection of historical documents—we see descriptions of Jesus’ trial with historical figures (John 18:28a), Jesus’ death after the crucifixion (John 19:33-34) and witnesses to Jesus’ resurrection (Acts 2:32).

Scholars, despite personal beliefs, cannot argue against Jesus’ existence or His death on the cross.

“The claim that Jesus was simply made up falters on every ground.” –Bart Ehrman, New Testament scholar and agnostic

“Jesus’ death as a consequence of crucifixion is indisputable.” –Gerd Lüdemann, New Testament scholar and atheist

This week, I challenge you to reflect on Jesus’ life, death and resurrection by reading pages A16-17 in your Life Transformation Bible. This study, Who is Jesus?, points to biblical evidence that He and His promises for us are real.

Jesus lived, died and rose again for the purpose of saving us from sin and death. I pray that as you reflect on Him, that purpose will become evident to you.

In Christ,

Jeff