October 1, 2026
All other major “religions” in the world are built on a great but departed leader or philosopher. Christianity alone centers around a living, resurrected Savior.
A missionary trying to relay this truth to a group of Muslims used this illustration: “I am traveling, and have reached a place where the road branches off into two directions; I look for a guide, and find two men; one dead and the other alive. Which of the two must I ask for directions, the dead or the living?” “Oh, the living,” responded the people. To which the missionary replied, “Why send me to Mohammed, who is dead, instead of to Christ, who is alive?”
When the two Marys and Salome brought spices to Jesus’ tomb on that first Easter morning, attending angels asked, “Why do you seek the living One among the dead? He is not here, but He has risen” (Luke 24:5,6 NASB). He’s alive, and since He’s alive…
His position is influential — After He rose from the dead, He made numerous post-resurrection appearances before ascending back to Heaven. There He remains, at the right hand of God, interceding on our behalf. Take great comfort in knowing that Jesus is praying for us, and that as divine defense attorney He is pleading our case before the Father and against the devil, the great accuser.
His purposes are unchangeable — People change, Jesus doesn’t. He is immutable. He’s the same yesterday, today, and forever. Boiled down, His desires for us can be summarized as follows:
His power is available — On the night before He was crucified, Jesus told His disciples, “It is to your advantage that I go away” (John 16:7). What on earth could be better than Jesus living among them? The Holy Spirit living in them, of course. He breathed a preview of the Spirit on them the night of His resurrection. That same Spirit came expansively and powerfully fifty days later on Pentecost (John 20:22, Acts 2:2). Twenty centuries later, the Third Member of the Trinity continues to work in us and through us.
His promises are reliable — Promises made two thousand years ago are just as viable today as they were then. Whoever believes in Him shall have everlasting life. The weary and heavy laden will find rest in Him. He’ll be with us always, to the very end of the age (John 3:16, Matthew 11:28, 28:20). And, of course, there’s that overarching promise on which we all await, “I will come again” (John 14:3). This only scratches the surface when it comes to the "precious and magnificent promises” available to those who belong to Him (2 Peter 1:4).
In the wake of the 1917 Bolshevik revolution, a communist leader was sent to a Russian village to promote communism and take the minds of the people off religion, which Karl Marx called the “opium of the people.”
After his lengthy babblings, the communist leader said harshly to the local pastor, “I will give you five minutes to reply.” The pastor said, “I don’t need five minutes, only five seconds.” He climbed onto the platform and gave the Easter greeting: “The Lord is risen!” The villagers responded boldly, as if in one voice, “He is risen indeed!”
Indeed, He has risen! He is alive. And since He’s alive, His position is influential, HIs purposes are unchangeable, His power is available, and His promises are reliable.
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Todd Gaddis is a semi-retired minister living in Athens. He continues to serve as an interim pastor and can be reached at jtoddgaddis@gmail.com.
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