Two thousand years ago, on a Sunday morning that began in darkness, a stone was rolled away—changing the course of humanity forever. The resurrection of Jesus Christ was not just an event; it was a cosmic upheaval. It split history in half, proved Christ’s divine nature, transformed cowards into martyrs, shattered the power of sin and death, and turned the world upside down.
How can we be certain the resurrection really happened? Consider the evidence: It was recorded by four independent authors, with each account reporting many small details in harmony. Eyewitnesses to the risen Christ included a group of 500 people (1 Corinthians 15:7). And the resurrection accounts include inconvenient truths—like the fact that women, who were not highly regarded in Middle Eastern culture, were the first eyewitnesses (Matthew 28:1-10).
If Easter is true—and it is—then every person who has ever lived must reckon with its reality. Here are six ways Jesus’ resurrection changed the course of history:
1. The Resurrection Split History in Two.
Even the secular world cannot ignore the impact of Easter. The resurrection of Jesus Christ is the very reason history is divided into B.C. (Before Christ) and A.D. (Anno Domini, or “in the year of our Lord,” from the time of Jesus’ birth). The life, death, and resurrection of one man—God in the flesh—became the fulcrum upon which all of human existence pivots. Every time someone writes a date, they bear witness to the fact that our Lord Jesus Christ changed the world forever.
This singular moment in history continues to echo through the centuries, shaping not only our calendar but our understanding of life, death, and the ultimate hope of humanity.
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2. The Resurrection Proved Jesus’ Divine Nature.
No religious leader has ever conquered death. No prophet has ever risen from the grave. But Jesus Christ, the sinless Son of God, did exactly what He said He would do—He laid down His life, and He took it up again (John 10:18).
The tomb of Muhammad is occupied. The grave of Buddha remains full. The burial places of Confucius, Krishna, and every so-called spiritual leader are filled with bones. But outside Jerusalem stands an empty tomb. And that empty tomb is the greatest proof that Jesus Christ is who He claimed to be: the Son of the living God, the only way to the Father, the victorious King who reigns forever.
3. The Resurrection Changed the Day of Worship.
The Jewish people worshiped on the Sabbath, which took place on Saturday. It was a command from God Himself, engraved in stone on the Ten Commandments. But after the resurrection, everything changed. The early Church—the very people who had been taught to keep the Sabbath—suddenly began gathering on Sunday (Acts 20:7).
What kind of event could cause thousands of devout Jews to suddenly abandon generations of law-keeping to worship on a new day? Only one: The resurrection of their Messiah! Nothing else could have overturned centuries of sacred tradition except the undeniable reality that Jesus Christ is alive.
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4. The Resurrection Transformed the Disciples from Cowards to Bold Witnesses—and Sparked a Global Movement.
Before Easter morning, the disciples were fearful, defeated men. They had seen their long-awaited Savior—everything they’d hoped for—die on the cross. Peter had denied Jesus three times. The others had scattered, hiding behind locked doors. But after they saw the risen Christ, these same men became bold, Spirit-filled witnesses.
Peter, who had trembled before a servant girl, preached before thousands (John 18:15-17, Acts 2:14-41). Thomas, who needed to see the holes in Jesus’ hands, declared, "My Lord and my God!" (John 20:25, 28). James, the brother of Jesus, who once thought Him “out of his mind” (Mark 3:21), became a pillar of the Church, declaring himself “a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ” (James 1:1). And Paul, the persecutor, became the greatest missionary the world has ever known (Acts 8:1-3, Acts 20:18-21).
What would they stand to gain? Not wealth, popularity, or power, for they stood before rulers and mobs, facing imprisonment, beatings, and execution. And yet, they boldly proclaimed the Gospel—sparking a movement that, by God’s power, has led billions to profess faith in Christ. They saw the risen Lord with their own eyes, faithfully proclaimed His Gospel, and “the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved” (Acts 2:47).
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5. Through the Resurrection, Jesus Defeated Sin and Death—Securing a Place in Eternity for All Who Would Believe in Him.
When Jesus walked out of the tomb, He declared victory over the curse that had plagued humanity since the fall. The power of sin was broken—not just eternally, but here and now. The grip of death was shattered. This was God’s plan from the very beginning.
Christ’s resurrection was the ultimate blow against Satan, sin, and death. Those who put their faith in Christ are no longer slaves to sin (Romans 6:6). They no longer need to fear death, for Jesus has conquered the grave. That is why Paul could declare, "Where, O death, is your victory? Where, O death, is your sting?" (1 Corinthians 15:55).
Because Jesus lives, we have hope beyond this life. Because Jesus—the perfect, sinless sacrifice—died on the cross for our sins, we can be forgiven. Because Jesus gave us His Holy Spirit (John 14:16-18), we can walk in victory over sin. Because He conquered death, those who put their faith in Him will never truly die. The world may fear death. But for the believer, death is merely a doorway into the presence of Christ. The resurrection guarantees that every tear will be wiped away, every sorrow will be turned to joy, and every grave will one day be emptied for those who belong to Jesus.
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6. The Resurrection Demands a Response—from You, Me, and All of Humanity.
The resurrection is the dividing line between eternal life and eternal death. You cannot ignore it. Either Jesus rose from the dead, or He did not. If He did, then He is Lord—and you must bow before Him in faith and repentance. If He did not, the Christian faith is meaningless, and we are without hope. In the words of the Apostle Paul, “If only for this life we have hope in Christ, we are of all people most to be pitied” (1 Corinthians 15:19).
What good news, then, that “Christ has indeed been raised from the dead” (1 Corinthians 15:20)! The transformation of the disciples, the explosion of the early Church, the martyrdom of eyewitnesses, the billions of lives changed throughout history—it all testifies to one foundational truth: Jesus Christ is alive.
So, the question is not whether Easter changed the world. The question is whether Easter has changed you. Have you encountered the risen Christ? Have you surrendered your life to Him? Because if you do, you will find the same power that raised Jesus from the dead at work in your life today (Romans 8:11).
Jesus said, “I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in me will live, even though they die; and whoever lives by believing in me will never die. Do you believe this?” (John 11:25-26).
If you believe, you can respond just as Martha did: “Yes, Lord, I believe that you are the Messiah, the Son of God, who is come into the world” (John 11:27). If you are ready to take that step today, it’s time to begin your new life in Christ.
Christ is risen! He is risen indeed! And because He lives, we who believe in Him will live with Him forever. What Good News, indeed!
Did you know that within 24 hours of Jesus’ crucifixion, Jesus fulfilled 20 specific prophecies in meticulous detail—prophecies recorded thousands of years before He was even born? In his eye-opening resource, Is Jesus the Messiah? 32 Prophecies Jesus Fulfilled During Holy Week, Dr. Michael Youssef details the stunning Old Testament promises Jesus fulfilled during Holy Week—from the time of His triumphant entry into Jerusalem to His miraculous resurrection. Download your FREE digital copy today, and marvel at the incredible detail with which God foretold the coming of His Son.
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Watch Dr. Youssef’s greatest sermons, explore original Christian podcasts, browse an expansive collection of Biblical content, and submit prayer requests at ltw.org
Originally published Saturday, 05 April 2025.