All religions are not equal. Things that are different are not the same. The resurrection of Jesus Christ changes everything.
The Religious Tolerance and Coexist movements are attempts to legitimize false religions. Usually, the people promoting these ideas want true believers to sit down and be quiet. They try to silence all mention of the preeminence of Christ.
True followers of Christ cannot pretend that different religions are equal. They teach different principles, motivations, and values. But most importantly, they teach different ways to save the souls of men. All roads don’t lead to Heaven. If there is a right way to Heaven, then there are also many counterfeit ways.
Jesus declares that He is ONLY way to Heaven. John 14:6 This makes true Christianity incompatible with every other religion. Either Jesus is the Saviour, or He is a liar. The resurrection proves that Jesus Christ is not only a good man and a prophet but also Lord and Christ!
Matthew 27:62-66 “Now the next day, that followed the day of the preparation, the chief priests and Pharisees came together unto Pilate, Saying, Sir, we remember that that deceiver said, while he was yet alive, After three days I will rise again. Command therefore that the sepulchre be made sure until the third day, lest his disciples come by night, and steal him away, and say unto the people, He is risen from the dead: so the last error shall be worse than the first. Pilate said unto them, Ye have a watch: go your way, make it as sure as ye can. So they went, and made the sepulchre sure, sealing the stone, and setting a watch.”
The Resurrection Promised
The Pharisees were concerned about an empty tomb. They understood that if Jesus rose from the dead, their credibility and power would be destroyed.
They knew that Jesus had promised to return from the dead after three days. He did not say that He hoped to rise again. He declared it as a fact as only the Son of God could do.
Matthew 16: 21 “From that time forth began Jesus to shew unto his disciples, how that he must go unto Jerusalem, and suffer many things of the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and be raised again the third day.”
Matthew 17: 22-23 “And while they abode in Galilee, Jesus said unto them, The Son of man shall be betrayed into the hands of men: And they shall kill him, and the third day he shall be raised again. And they were exceeding sorry.”
Matthew 20:18-19 “Behold, we go up to Jerusalem; and the Son of man shall be betrayed unto the chief priests and unto the scribes, and they shall condemn him to death, And shall deliver him to the Gentiles to mock, and to scourge, and to crucify him: and the third day he shall rise again.”
[shareable]The resurrection proves that Jesus Christ is not only a good man and a prophet but also Lord and Christ![/shareable]
The Resurrection Prevented
The Pharisees knew that belief in the resurrection of Christ would devastate Judaism and every other religion. They wanted to make sure that it was impossible for His body to be stolen. A watch of hardened Roman soldiers was placed at the tomb for security. Also, the large stone that covered the sepulchre was sealed.
The Resurrection Prevailed
Matthew 28:1-6 “In the end of the sabbath, as it began to dawn toward the first day of the week, came Mary Magdalene and the other Mary to see the sepulchre. And, behold, there was a great earthquake: for the angel of the Lord descended from heaven, and came and rolled back the stone from the door, and sat upon it. His countenance was like lightning, and his raiment white as snow: And for fear of him the keepers did shake, and became as dead men. And the angel answered and said unto the women, Fear not ye: for I know that ye seek Jesus, which was crucified. He is not here: for he is risen, as he said. Come, see the place where the Lord lay.”
Up from the grave, Christ arose with a mighty triumph over His foes! It was impossible that the grave should hold the Son of God. Life surrendered to death temporarily only to destroy it entirely by the resurrection of our Lord.
The Angel descends robbing the strength and courage of the Roman soldiers. This angel of light declares that Christ is risen as He said He would. Our Lord is no deceiver as the Pharisees claimed. Jesus Christ is Truth and Life!
The Resurrection Proved
Romans 1:4 “And declared to be the Son of God with power, according to the spirit of holiness, by the resurrection from the dead:”
The Resurrection is God’s exclamation point on the deity of Jesus Christ. There can be no argument about Who Jesus is after He arose. The resurrection proves that Jesus Christ is Lord and Savior!
The resurrection proves that Jesus has power over death and can give us eternal life. Thus, the resurrection destroys every other religion. If Jesus Christ really rose from the dead, there can be no argument. No discussion of religious preference or moral disputation matters if Christ arose. Mohammed is dead. Buddha is dead. There is no empty grave for Hinduism, Taoism, Shintoism, Paganism, Humanism, Spiritism, etc. Every other religion in the world is made obsolete by the resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ!
Matthew 28:12-15 “Now when they were going, behold, some of the watch came into the city, and shewed unto the chief priests all the things that were done. And when they were assembled with the elders, and had taken counsel, they gave large money unto the soldiers, Saying, Say ye, His disciples came by night, and stole him away while we slept. And if this come to the governor’s ears, we will persuade him, and secure you. So they took the money, and did as they were taught: and this saying is commonly reported among the Jews until this day.”
The only recourse the Pharisees had after the resurrection was to deny it. Even though Jesus had been seen multiple times over a period of 40 days after His resurrection these sad religious leaders worked feverishly to spread lies. They paid off the Roman soldiers and directed them to lie as well.
The only weak and sorry defense satan has against the resurrection is to deny it ever happened. Some people still believe the same falsehoods today. Yet, these hollow lies echo against the walls of an empty tomb.
Rejoice, my friends! Christ is risen! He is KING of Kings and LORD of Lords!