QUESTION : What does Jesus’ resurrection have to do with my life right now? – Jacob John

ANSWER : Jacob Parappally MSFS

The resurrection of Jesus plainly means that he was experienced as alive after having been crucified and buried. In fact, the Christian faith is built on two foundational experiences: “This Jesus of Nazareth is Lord and God” and “This Jesus was dead but rose again” (cf. Rom 10:9). The entire edifice of Christian tradition rests upon these two pillars. Paul emphatically asserts that if there were no resurrection of Jesus, then the believers in Christ would be the most pitiable of all people (1 Cor 15:19). The proclamation of Jesus’ resurrection is the central message of Paul’s gospel (Rom 1:3f; 4:24f; 8:34; 10:9; 1 Cor 15:3-11; 1 Thess 1:10; 2 Tim 2:8). Human history and all of creation entered a new mode of existence because of the resurrection of Jesus from the dead. This is the heart of the Christian proclamation. However, even from apostolic times, there have been those who could not accept the truth of the resurrection. Some ridiculed those who believed in it and committed themselves to Christ, claiming to have experienced him as alive after death.

The resurrection of Jesus affirms that life is worth living – no matter the circumstances. It reveals that human suffering has meaning because it shares in the suffering of God, who suffers out of love.

The resurrection of Jesus has everything to do with human life–whether one believes in it or not. Every human being–past, present, or future–is affected, transformed, and made into a new creation both by the incarnation (hominization) of the Word and by his resurrection from the dead. It offers new hope: that human life is not simply a journey beginning and ending on earth, but one that finds its origin and fulfillment in Jesus Christ, the Alpha and the Omega. The resurrection of Jesus affirms that life is worth living – no matter the circumstances. It reveals that human suffering has meaning because it shares in the suffering of God, who suffers out of love.

Challenges of Jesus’ Resurrection

Christian faith affirms that the one who was crucified and died rose again from the dead. Naturally, the first question that arises is: Why was Jesus crucified? Both the Apostles’ Creed and the Nicene-Constantinopolitan Creed affirm the historical fact of his crucifixion during the time of Pontius Pilate, governor of the Roman province of Judea. Jesus was murdered. He was eliminated by the religious and political powers of his time because he posed a threat to their systems of domination, control, and exploitation. No oppressive system tolerates those who challenge its criminal acts. Though Jesus did not directly oppose the colonial power of Rome, but his very presence was a threat. He openly challenged a religious system that manipulated divine revelation for its own gain.

The resurrection of Jesus cannot be separated from his crucifixion. Both together reveal the true nature of God. The God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob–the God Jesus knew as “Abba”–is a God who liberates people from all forms of oppression, injustice, and dehumanization. Jesus was crucified because he stood for this God and the human values that came from his relationship with the Father. For Jesus, human beings were more important than religious laws. He challenged the prioritization of the Sabbath, the Temple, and ritual purity over moral integrity and human dignity. He taught that what defiles a person is not what enters the body, but what comes from the heart and mind–what violates human relationships.

The resurrection of Jesus cannot be separated from his crucifixion. Both together reveal the true nature of God. The God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob—the God Jesus knew as “Abba”—is a God who liberates people from all forms of oppression, injustice, and dehumanization.

Accused of blasphemy by the Jewish authorities, Jesus was handed over to Pontius Pilate, who ordered his crucifixion. It seemed like the end. But then the unthinkable happened: Jesus rose from the dead and was experienced as alive by his disciples–who had been hiding in fear. This experience transformed them. Only God could have brought about such a change. They boldly began proclaiming the undeniable truth of Jesus’ resurrection, even to the point of martyrdom.

Jesus asked his disciples to take up their cross and follow him. Only those willing to die for the cause Jesus died for can hope to share in his resurrection. It means living out the values of the Kingdom of God that Jesus preached – love, justice, equality, fraternity, communion, reconciliation, and peace. When we stand for these values, we inevitably face conflict and opposition. In such moments, we must hold fast to our faith in Jesus, who suffers with us and makes our resurrection possible. Every time we experience hope in hopeless situations, we share in Jesus’ resurrection.

Resurrection: New Life in Christ – Right Now

The resurrection of Jesus is not merely a Christian doctrine or a past event. It is an ongoing experience of Jesus as alive–a personal and transformative reality for those who surrender to him in faith. Though it is a trans-historical event, forever it altered human history. It shapes the lives of people in every age, either through their direct encounter with the risen Christ or indirectly through the lives of transformed believers. For the Christian, the resurrection is not a past occurrence–it is a present, life-giving reality. It provides hope amid despair, strength amid weakness, and meaning amid confusion. It assures every believer that death is not the end. Death is merely a bend in the road of life–not the end of the road.

Only those willing to die for the cause Jesus died for can hope to share in his resurrection. It means living out the values of the Kingdom of God that Jesus preached – love, justice, equality, fraternity, communion, reconciliation, and peace. When we stand for these values, we inevitably face conflict and opposition. In such moments, we must hold fast to our faith in Jesus, who suffers with us and makes our resurrection possible. Every time we experience hope in hopeless situations, we share in Jesus’ resurrection.

The resurrection of Christ transforms individuals and societies into God’s people. As Paul writes in 2 Corinthians 5:18, “In Christ you are a new creation’ This transformation begins now, if we are willing to be changed by the living Christ. The only requirement is surrender–to live out the consequences of that surrender by embodying the values of the Gospel.

The Easter People

St. Augustine reminded Christians, “You are Easter people.” The joy of Easter lies in its hope. The resurrection of Jesus proclaims that death is not the final word on human life. At baptism, every believer dies with Christ and rises with him. This is the source of Christian joy. All human beings live and die in Christ, for humanity has no true existence apart from him. All humans are a part of the reality of Christ. This relationship with Christ becomes real when one accepts this truth in faith.

Those who believe in Jesus are offered a meaningful life–here and now. His resurrection gives each believer a new identity and the power to live differently from the world. Eternal life begins now–not after death. “For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him may not perish but may have eternal life” (John 3:16). To live as Easter people means recognizing our present existence as a gratuitous gift of God and becoming beacons of hope for those in despair.

Resurrection and Insurrection, Rising and Uprising

The resurrection of Jesus gives hope to all who are victims of tyranny, discrimination, and dehumanization. In every non-violent insurrection or uprising, in every genuine and legitimate protest against the powers that would not let humans unfold themselves as humans, the power of risen Christ and the Spirit are alive and active. When the oppressed rise–peacefully–against forces that crush their humanity, the seeds of Christ’s resurrection are sprouting within them.

The Risen Christ empowers the weak, the exploited, and the dehumanized through his Spirit. In the cries of war victims and in the tears of the marginalized–whether Dalits, women, tribals, or landless peasants–when one hears the refusal to accept subjugation, the resurrection is already beginning. The tomb of suffering and death becomes the womb of resurrection.

Resurrection of Jesus for Personal Transformation

The most challenging and encouraging aspect of experiencing the resurrection is the transformative knowledge that Jesus is alive in my life. It changes my behavior, relationships, attitudes, and lifestyle. The resurrection of Christ empowers me to treat others with self-emptying love, compassion, and forgiveness. It enables me to set clear priorities in life and helps me overcome the tendency to settle for the minimum. It reorients my focus toward what is essential for living an authentic Christian discipleship, rather than being distracted by what is non-essential, unimportant and superficial.

For the Christian, the resurrection is not a past occurrence—it is a present, life-giving reality. It provides hope amid despair, strength amid weakness, and meaning amid confusion. It assures every believer that death is not the end. Death is merely a bend in the road of life—not the end of the road.

The resurrection of Christ teaches me that the cost of discipleship is worth the trouble and suffering. It assures me that everything I do with selfless love for others will bear fruit. It gives courage–to me and to everyone–to stand for the values of the Gospel, regardless of the consequences. It gives meaning to every cross borne for the sake of one’s stand against injustice, oppression, and dehumanization. It strengthens me when I am weak and fills me with hope in moments of despair. Therefore, Jesus’ resurrection means everything to me. It enlightens me about the plight of the poor and the marginalized in society, and it inspires me to stand with them in their struggle for justice and dignity.

The resurrection does not remove suffering–it suffuses it with meaning. It does not eliminate death–it transforms it. It empowers believers to persevere when hope seems lost and to act with courage in the face of fear. It reveals that resurrection is not merely a once-a-year celebration–it is a daily invitation to live fully, love deeply, and hope endlessly.