Jesus Christ, the Saviour of all mankind has shown us that without a resurrection we will never have eternal life. It was through His resurrection all mankind can be guaranteed eternal life if we obey Him and follow His example! "Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in Me, though he were dead, yet shall he live: And whosoever liveth and believeth in Me shall never die. Believest thou this?" (John 11:25-26).

At Passover time, the whole Christian world celebrates the anniversary of the death and resurrection of the man Christ Jesus who stood for eternal truth! But it was not the death alone that was significant, it was the full revelation of the truth demonstrated by His resurrection that His life, ministry and death became unique in the annals of history. His resurrection alone confirmed His claim that He was more than a man; that He was indeed the Son of God in whom was vested the power to take away the sins of the world!

It is true that some have been restored to life after being dead, but none has ever been resurrected to eternal life until the resurrection and the acceptance of Christ as the wave sheaf spoken of in Leviticus 23. Jesus Christ came from the grave never to die again. He fulfilled the scriptures Paul spoke of, "Now if Christ be preached that He rose from the dead, how say some among you that there is no resurrection of the dead? But if there be no resurrection of the dead, then is Christ not risen: And if Christ be not risen, then is our preaching vain, and your faith is also vain. Yea, and we are found false witnesses of God; because we have testified of God that He raised up Christ: whom He raised not up, if so be that the dead rise not. For if the dead rise not, then is not Christ raised: 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. For since by man came death, by man came also the resurrection of the dead. For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive" (1 Cor. 15: 12-22).

In His resurrected state He came with a new glorified body. That body can never be affected by death, for He arose immortal. He offers to all who believe and obey Him, eternal life and incorruptibility. Christ said, "-----I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly" (John 10:10). "Verily, verily, I say unto you, If a man keep My saying, he shall never see death [eternal]" (John 8:51). Is it any wonder that all the Christian world celebrates the resurrection? There is an inherent desire in each one of us for everlasting eternal life--each wants immortality–each of us want to escape the finality of death. There is only one way to receive the blessing of eternal life and that is through the acceptance of Christ's atoning death and His resurrection.

In the beginning, God gave Adam and Eve the choice of obedience to Him or to choose the way of self determination. God declared what they should do and they should not do certain things, lest they die. They made the wrong choice. They learned that they were mortal and they died.

Jesus Christ, the wave sheaf of Leviticus 23, was cut down on the afternoon of the 14th day of the first month on God's calendar. He was resurrected from the grave late Sabbath evening and ascended to be accepted by the Father on the first day of the week [Sunday]. This is the reason why Pentecost is counted from the Sunday after the weekly Sabbath within the days of Unleavened Bread.

What is the significance of the resurrection? If Jesus Christ did not rise from the dead, there is no hope for us. Paul clearly states: "Now if Christ be preached that He rose from the dead, how say some among you that there is no resurrection of the dead? But if there be no resurrection of the dead, then is Christ not risen: And if Christ be not risen, then is our preaching vain, and your faith is also vain" (1 Cor. 15:13-14).

Without a resurrection, we cannot preach Christ alive and living in us. For without the resurrection of Jesus Christ we have no hope! We often speak of the death of Christ, but seldom speak of the resurrection. The crucifixion was a means to a perfect end. Christ, resurrected to eternal life, shows He has overcome the power of death and came forth from the grave to triumphant over death!

Christ did more than bring forgiveness and personal salvation to you and me, by His death and resurrection He also redeemed a people for His Kingdom. Thus, by the Lord's death and resurrection came the redemption of Israel as a nation, as well as the salvation of each individual who accepts Him as Saviour!

Christ sealed the terms of the New Covenant through the shedding of His blood. A blood covenant is the strongest covenant that can be made! "For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life. For God sent not His Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through Him might be saved" (John 3:16-17).