The hardened Roman soldiers who crucified Jesus and then took His body down from the cross and placed it in a stone tomb were very familiar with death — and they had no doubt Jesus was truly dead. Nor did anyone else on that tragic day.

Later, after the resurrection, the authorities bribed the soldiers to say that Jesus’ disciples had stolen His body (see Matthew 28:11-15). It didn’t even occur to them, however, to claim instead that He hadn’t really died, but had somehow recovered enough strength to move the huge stone blocking the tomb’s entrance and then overcome the armed guards posted outside. They knew no one would believe it — nor should we.

If Jesus were only another human being, then we’d have reason to doubt His resurrection. But the Bible says that He was more than a man: He was God in human flesh, sent from Heaven according to the plan of God to save us from our sins. God raised Him from the dead, and by His resurrection Jesus Christ conquered our greatest enemies: sin, and Satan, and death, and Hell.

Don’t limit God, and don’t turn away from what Jesus Christ did for you by His death and resurrection. God loves you, and because of Christ’s resurrection we have hope. His words are true: “I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me will live, even though he dies” (John 11:25).