Easter Sunday Bulletin

[Richard D. McKinney]

He Is Risen!


I Cor. 15:17-20 "And if Christ be not raised, your
faith is vain; ye are yet in your sins. Then they also which
are fallen asleep in Christ are perished. If in this life
only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men most
miserable. But now is Christ risen from the dead, and
become the firstfruits of them that slept."
The validity of the resurrection of Jesus has been
questioned by skeptics and attacked by the unbelieving.
The reality of the matter is, the resurrection did
happen! And as proof of His resurrection, Jesus appeared to
many before He ascended back into Heaven. Jesus appeared
to Peter and then the twelve disciples, was seen of above
five hundred brethren at one time, James and all the
apostles, and then He was seen by Paul also. With all of
these witnesses, there is no room for questioning whether or
not the resurrection took place.
Have you ever wondered what it would be like if
Jesus had not arisen from the grave? Well, Paul began to
give some insight to those at Corinth. Paul began to tell
them that there would be no need for preaching, for
preaching would be in vain. If there were no resurrection
then there would be no need for faith, for faith would be in
vain. If there was no resurrection then ministers would be
found as false witnesses. If there were no resurrection, then
we would still be in our sins, and those that die would have
no hope, they would be gone—perished!
If there were no resurrection, then there would be no
need for churches. No need for preaching. No need for
singing. No need for altar calls. No need to celebrate today!
But the good news is, the resurrection did happen!
People saw it! Others experienced it! So there is a need for
Churches! There is a need for preaching! There is a need for
singing! There is a need for altar calls! And we can
celebrate today, because He is risen!
In closing, the world thought they had silenced the
One who had torn their playhouse up, but that was the
atmosphere on Friday, victory morning was just ahead!
After three days and nights in the tomb, Jesus arose, and
when Mary Magdalene and the other Mary came to the
tomb, the angel proclaimed, "He is not here: for He is risen,
as He said. Come, see the place where the Lord lay." (Matt.
28:6)
Pastor Richard D. McKinney