Resurrection Sunday - "Light of the World" - John 20:1-31

At this time of year, the world stops and recognizes the historical event of the resurrection. Most people are content to accept the fact that maybe it happened and maybe it didn’t. But it seems to have some sentimental value to people, and they don’t want to argue whether or not it happened. It kind of slides by as a recognized holiday. But for us, the resurrection is not a once-a-year discussion, it is a constant reality for us. We live every day of our lives in light of the resurrection of Jesus Christ.Because of Jesus resurrection, the true church is alive. Despite all that it endures and suffers, it is alive. The resurrection life of its Lord is the very life of the church. Because He lives, we live.Ask yourselves: What gathered the scattered apostles? What transformed them? What took that little band of followers of Jesus going through very difficult times and being fearful, what took them to the place where they literally turned the world upside-down with the message of Jesus as Lord and Messiah? It was one event: The Resurrection! The resurrection of Jesus became the message of the apostles, a message essentially that established the church and continues to advance the church.How important is the resurrection of Jesus Christ? It vindicates the truthfulness of the Word of God, the deity of the Son of God, the completion of the salvation of God, and the establishment of the church of God. There’s another reality that is tied inextricably to the resurrection: the inevitability of the judgment of God. Jesus rose not only to be Lord of His church, Jesus rose not only to be the life of His church, but Jesus rose to be the Judge of the world.