yourmoneyisours

“But if, as some affirm who are without God – that is, unbelievers – he [(Christ)] only seemed to suffer (but it is they who only seem to be!), why am I a prisoner, and why do I even long to fight with the beasts? In that case I am dying in vain." – Ignatius (bishop of church of Antioch in Syria, martyred in Rome ca. 110)

"And if Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile and you are still in your sins. Then those also who have fallen asleep in Christ have perished. If in Christ we have hope in this life only, we are of all people most to be pitied." - 1 Cor 15:17-19

I love the idea of the resurrection of Christ being God's "Yes" to Jesus. The resurrection was God validating the life and even death of Christ, God's divine stamp of approval that Jesus was not just another insurrectionist stirring up trouble in the empire. If the resurrection isn't true, then it's all pointless. Jesus' teachings, his miracles, his death. It's all pointless. The resurrection is a message of hope - the hope that the kingdom ushered in by Christ is growing, and it will continue to grow until Christ returns to make all rulers and authorities subject to himself. The resurrection is proof that our labor is not in vain.