Paul, who wrote much of the New Testament, said that his entire ministry would be worthless if the resurrection had not taken place. "If Christ has not been raised," he wrote, "then our preaching is vain, our faith also is vain.... If Christ has not been y raised, your faith is worthless; you are still in your sins" (1 Cor. 15:14, 17).

The resurrection was the greatest visible evidence for the truth of what Jesus said about himself and his work. If He hadn't been raised, he would have been proved a liar; His message of redemption would have been worthless. When the religious leaders of His day asked for some sign of His authority, Jesus told them that the only sign they would be given would be His resurrection from the dead John 2:18-19; Matt. 12:38-40). His resurrection was a triumph over their sin, but also a fulfillment and authentication of His message.

What was Jesus message which was authenticated by the resurrection? Here are some of the things that Jesus said about Himself, all of which were affirmed by His resurrection from the dead:

I am the bread of life; he who comes to me shall not hunger, and he who believes in me shall never thirst (John 6:35).

I am the light of the world; he who follows me shall not walk in the darkness, but shall have the light of life (John 8:12).

Truly, truly, I say to you, before Abraham was born, I AM [a claim to be God Himself] (John 8:58; cf. Ex.3;14).

I am the door; if anyone enters through me, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture (John 10:9).

I am the good shepherd; the good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep (John 10:11).

I am the resurrection and the life; he who believes in me shall live even if he dies (John 11:25).

I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father, but through me (John 14:6).

If these statements are true, then anything that contradicts, them cannot also be true. In other words, if it is true that Jesus is God, then anyone who says Jesus is not God must be wrong. If it is true that Jesus gives eternal life to those who believe in Him and that He is the only way to the Father, then anyone who says that there are other ways to salvation must be wrong. If what Jesus said about Himself is true, then Christianity is true, and any contradictory religious belief must be false. That's not a very popular message in today's pluralistic culture, but the fact is that only one world view can be correct. If Jesus Christ was actually raised from the dead, then His message has been authenticated. He alone is the way, the truth, and the life.