Why Did Jesus Come Back to Life?

It’s Easter Monday and I’m still pondering Jesus’ final words from the cross—

“It is finished.” 

Last week, on Good Friday, I received a text from my Aunt Bonnie, along with an image. An artistic rendering of crosses and a tomb, words painted across the bottom. “It is finished.” My aunt’s text included a question: You know what it means, don’t you? 

Fast forward. Easter morning. Kyle and I began our day with a classroom full of kiddos—twice as many as normal, and somewhat chaotic. We did our best to keep their attention for a bit of audience participation. “Does anyone know why Jesus had to die?” Hands go up.

“Jesus died for our sins.” 

Exactly. And then, we asked a different question. “Do you know why Jesus had to come back to life?” 

Crickets… 

Which has me thinking. 

Before Bonnie’s text I’d already been wondering about Jesus’ last words, and all the ways it is truly finished.

The phrase comes from one Greek word: tetelestai. A word meaning total completion. Like a carpenter completing a piece of furniture. A sculptor completing a work of art. “It is finished”—and now it is ready for it’s intended purpose! 

Those who witnessed Jesus’ crucifixion could only see an utterly tragic ending. It is finished looked for all the world like it is over. But what the eye couldn’t see was breathtaking completion. 

The curse broken. The enemy conquered. Sin defeated. Paradise restored. Death swallowed whole.

It is finished meant…now it begins!

Cue Resurrection!! 

Yesterday at church there were also baptisms. After our time with the kids Kyle and I made our way to the main service where we watched several people reenact Jesus' death and resurrection. Down under the water, raised back up. 

Jesus didn’t stay dead, and neither do we. We are ALIVE! There’s a theological word for this, and it’s a really good one: 

New Creation. 

Jesus gives us a brand new start as brand new humans in a brand new kingdom for a brand new life. 

Yes. “Jesus died for our sins” is only the beginning. Jesus came back to life in order to rewrite the entire human story—to usher in a whole new era marked by Resurrection. 

When we put our trust in Jesus it’s like our old sinful selves die, and brand new people are born. Jesus says his followers will actually live like him. We’ll do things he did! 

“Very truly I tell you, whoever believes in me will do the works I have been doing, and they will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father.” (John 14:12)

Crazy, right?! And this resurrection life isn’t just heaven someday. New Creation begins here and now and goes on forever. 

Why did Jesus come back to life? 

Because it is finished… and now it begins!