Jesus’ three years of ministry were accompanied by countless miracles. He walked on water, calmed storms, opened blind eyes, healed the crippled, and even raised many from the dead. No miracle was as potent and powerful as the empty tomb. More than two thousand years later Christians around the world still celebrate what is the greatest accomplishment of human history; the resurrection. The empty tomb is the cornerstone of the Christian faith. Everything we believe hinges on the belief that Jesus Christ died and rose back to life on the third day. Jesus’ identity, and his claims to deity hinge on the resurrection, and so does our salvation and reconciliation to God.

Throughout Jesus' life, He was very clear about who He was and His intent. He came into the world not to condemn it, but to save it. He claimed that He Himself was “the Kingdom of God at hand”; the Word of God made flesh. Before Abraham was born, Jesus declared, “I am,” clearly saying to all that He is God. Jesus was direct in claiming that He was the Son of God in the flesh. His powerful teaching verified that his miracles verified it, and His life verified it. In Jesus, multiple Old Testament prophecies were fulfilled. The only way to deflate Jesus' influence and power, and ultimately puncture his claims to deity, was through death. If Jesus could die and remain dead, then He couldn’t be God. But if Jesus, as the sacrificial lamb of God, died and rose again, then everything He said was true and He is undoubtedly God.

The Bible also shows us that without Jesus' work on the cross we are dead in our sins. However, if Jesus died and did not rise again, then it nullifies that truth. The work on the cross is unfinished if the tomb is not empty. In 1 Corinthians, the apostle Paul says bluntly, “if Christ has not been raised, your faith is worthless; you are still in your sins.” The salvation of Christians depends on Jesus Christ's defeating sin and death. If Jesus did not rise then we have no faith and no hope of getting to heaven. The good news for humanity – the gospel – is that Jesus rose again on the third day, conquering sin and death so that we too can conquer sin and death. Jesus was truly who He claimed to be and we who are in Christ have gained eternal life through Him.