Christians, can you explain to Jehovah's Witnesses why the Resurrection of Jesus matters?

The important bit about the resurrection of Jesus is that it was his BODY that was resurrected, but they deny that, saying a spirit creature (Michael the Archangel) came out of the tomb and Jesus' body just disappeared. Well, if they are right, then they have zero basis for thinking any human can ever be resurrected with a physical body. If the body of Jesus just disappeared, then they have no hope that their loved ones will ever be resurrected with a physical body. That's why the resurrection of Jesus matters.

The resurrection was not only the supreme validation of His deity; it also validated the Scriptures, which foretold His coming and resurrection. Moreover, it authenticated Christ’s claims that He would be raised on the third day (John 2:19-21; Mark 8:31; 9:31; 10:34). If Christ’s body was not resurrected, we have no hope that ours will be (1 Corinthians 15:13, 16). In fact, apart from Christ’s bodily resurrection, we have no Savior, no salvation, and no hope of eternal life.

If Jesus' body was not resurrected, then Jesus is dead. Claiming that a spirit creature came out of the tomb is NOT a resurrection. What dies has to be restored to life - the same life, not a different life.

If Jesus' body had not been resurrected then death would not have been defeated. Resurrection means “a rising from the dead”; something comes back to life. The first Christians understood that all souls were immortal and at death immediately went to be with the Lord (2 Corinthians 5:8). Thus, a “spiritual” resurrection would make no sense, as the spirit doesn’t die and therefore cannot be resurrected. Additionally, they were aware that the Scriptures, as well as Christ Himself, stated that His body would rise again on the third day. Scripture also made it clear that Christ’s body would see no decay (Psalm 16:10; Acts 2:27), a charge that would make no sense if His body was not resurrected. Lastly, Christ emphatically told His disciples it was His body that was resurrected: “A spirit does not have flesh and bones as you see I have” (Luke 24:39).

You're absolutely right JWs do not understand either the importance of the resurrection or for that matter what the resurrection really is... they think Jesus was a raised in spirit form and then concoct all manner of advanced delusional thinking to explain the various bible verses that say He had a body.

There are so many examples, but here are a couple.

Paul, a servant of Christ Jesus, called to be an apostle, set apart for the gospel of God, which he promised beforehand through his prophets in the holy Scriptures, concerning his Son, who was descended from David according to the flesh and was declared to be the Son of God in power according to the Spirit of holiness by his resurrection from the dead, Jesus Christ our Lord. Rom. 1:1-4

It will be counted to us who believe in him who raised from the dead Jesus our Lord, who was delivered up for our trespasses and raised for our justification. Rom. 4:24-25

I am the resurrection and the life. John 11:25

The resurrection is so critical to the Gospel that you cannot go around it. It proves 1) that Jesus is God and only God can overcome the grave 2) eternal life is possible and promised even if you die 3) God is faithful and His salvation plan is complete 4) is entirely necessary for our justification.

Without the resurrection, Jesus is just another man nailed to a cross. This fits in nicely with Jehovah's Witness theology since they believe, not only that Jesus was just a man, but that His sacrifice is not sufficient so they must add to it and preach being one of them for salvation. Plus, they don't even believe in His bodily resurrection. They believe His body was dissolved and their Jesus is dead, forever dead.

Without the Biblical, bodily resurrection of Christ, there is no hope for believers to have a resurrection. This kind of JW theology makes God a liar, unfaithful, unable to keep the promises throughout His word, the Bible. But when you consider their theology, the utter lack of importance on the resurrection makes sense. It is a strong witness to their ignorance and unsaved condition.

It's not that we do not think that the resurrection is important. Because It is important. Jesus being resurrected opened up a way for mankind to be released from slavery to sin and death thru his being resurrected. It also indicated that there will be others who will be brought back from the dead. His resurrection means life. However, it was his death that he specifically states to keep observing in remembrance of him in Luke 22:19,20. That is why so many saw what they are saying. But to clarify both his death and resurrection are important it's just he only asked that his death be commorated, not his resurrection.

yes

its a matter of being saved or not being saved

''if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.

For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.''

There is a big difference between Easter and the resurrection of Jesus.

If somebody wants to know what we teach in regards Jesus' resurrection, read the following article.

If you do not want to learn what we teach about his resurrection and spew false accusation, do not bother:

"JESUS’ resurrection is not merely an isolated, ancient occurrence that has little meaning for us today. The apostle Paul pointed out its significance when he wrote: “Christ has been raised up from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep in death. For since death is through a man, resurrection of the dead is also through a man. For just as in Adam all are dying, so also in the Christ all will be made alive.”—1 Corinthians 15:20-22.

Jesus was resurrected on Nisan 16, 33 C.E., the day of the year on which the Jews presented the firstfruits of the first grain crop before Jehovah God at the temple sanctuary in Jerusalem. By calling Jesus the firstfruits, Paul implied that there would be other individuals brought back from death.

Paul’s next words explain what has been made possible by Jesus’ resurrection. “Since death is through a man,” said Paul, “resurrection of the dead is also through a man.” Because of the sin and imperfection passed on to us from Adam, we all die. However, by giving his perfect human life as a ransom, Jesus opened the way for mankind to be released from slavery to sin and death through the resurrection. Summing up the matter nicely, Paul wrote at Romans 6:23: “The wages sin pays is death, but the gift God gives is everlasting life by Christ Jesus our Lord.”

Jesus himself explained the meaning that his death and resurrection have for us. Referring to himself, he said: “The Son of man must be lifted up, that everyone believing in him may have everlasting life. For God loved the world so much that he gave his only-begotten Son, in order that everyone exercising faith in him might not be destroyed but have everlasting life.”—John 3:14-16.

Imagine—endless life without pain, suffering, or sorrow! (Revelation 21:3, 4) What a happy prospect! One scholar put the matter this way: “While graveyards may remind one of the brevity of life, the resurrection ensures the brevity of death.” Yes, the resurrection of Jesus means life!"

The Resurrection is crucial to the Gospel. If Jesus had merely died and not been resurrected, Death would still have dominion over us.

The preaching of the resurrection was the central theme of Peter and the elevens message following these words spoken by our Lord.

(John 11:25) Jesus said..I AM the RESURRECTION, and the LIFE: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he LIVE

Peter when speaking of a replacement for Judas clearly said that person had to have been with the Lord Jesus from the beginning

(Acts 1:22) Beginning from the baptism of John, unto the same day that he was TAKEN UP from us, must one be ordained to be a WITNESS with us of his RESURRECTION.

*Mathias had those qualifications and was chosen to replace Judas (v:26)

*The apostles preaching of the resurrection was initially to there own people i.e the Jews (Acts 1:8) When Peter spoke of the resurrection to the Jews on the day of pentecost (Acts 2:32-36) there response was "what shall we do?" (v:37)

Peters answer was (v:38) Repent, and be baptized everyone in the name of Jesus Christ.

*The Jews at the that moment might not have understood the full significance of Christ's resurrection spoken by Peter to them but Peter and the eleven made it clearer as they continued to preach.

*Some of the Jewish religious order of the day when explained what the resurrection meant still didn't like Peter and elevens message:

(Acts 4:2) Being grieved (Sadducees) that they TAUGHT the people, and PREACHED through Jesus the RESURRECTION from the dead.

*Jesus told his disciples they would receive great power in there preaching with the giving of the promised Holy Ghost to them (Acts 1:8 & 4:31)

(Acts 4:33) And with GREAT POWER gave the apostles witness of the RESURRECTION of the Lord Jesus.

*So we can conclude the apostles preaching of the resurrection was understood by all who heard it.

*Paul was personally chosen from Heaven by the Lord Jesus to preach the resurrection to all people i.e the Gentiles ( Acts 9:4-6 & 15-16) and just like Peter and the eleven not everybody liked his message.

(Acts 17:18) And some said, What will this babbler say? ..He seemeth to be a setter forth of strange gods: because he PREACHED unto them Jesus and the RESURRECTION.

*Ok, I have provided scriptural proof that our Lord Jesus sent Peter and the eleven and Paul to preach to EVERYONE the resurrection. The JWs have no excuse to not believe this. Christ's apostles never preached to anyone about a earthly organization (watchtower) being God's mouthpiece on earth and that everyone should come to them for salvation.

*What does the resurrection mean to us ?

Paul declares the gospel of our salvation in (1Cor 15:1-4) "Christ died for our sins..was buried and rose AGAIN the third day"

*A lost sinner will be saved by believing this (Acts 16:31) and the resurrection is part of the gospel.

(Rom 6:4) Wherefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was RAISED UP from the DEAD by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.

v:5 For if we been planted TOGETHER in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his RESURRECTION.

*When a sinner believes the gospel they are identified in Christ's death, burial and RESURRECTION when they are saved. The Holy Spirit of God baptizes and seals us with the Holy Spirit of promise into Christ's body forever ! ( 1Cor 12:13 & Eph 1:13)

*We do not have to wait for a future resurrection to know if we are saved or not because we have been saved and RESURRECTED with Christ already !

*That's why Paul calls this "The POWER of his RESURRECTION"(Phil 3:10)

*This is truly Gods amazing FREE GIFT of GRACE through faith in Christ in the church age of grace (Acts 20:24, Rom 5:15, Eph 2:8-9 & 3:2)

(1Cor 15:13) But if there be no resurrection of the dead, then is Christ not risen:

v:14 And if Christ be not risen, then is our preaching vain, and your faith is also vain.

*How sad it is for JWs not to believe the words of Paul. If Christ was not resurrected from the dead then Paul's preaching is a waste of time and our faith is vain and we are still dead in our sins (Rom 3:23 & 6:23)

*The JWs and the cults pay lip service to the resurrection but they don't understand what it means. The JW's are hoping that at a future date following the tribulation they will be resurrected to reign with Christ during his 1000 year reign (Rev 20:6) and finally if they have done enough good works they will be granted everlasting life into the holy city new Jerusalem (John 5:29 & Rev 21:1-2)

*Salvation is for today (2Cor 6:2) not after you die (Heb 9:27) Only a eternal torment in hell awaits a JW if they are not saved by Christ (John 8:24 & Rev 20:15) The future tribulation and the reward of the faithful saints (Rev 7:9-14 & 20:4) is not the one hope of the church today (Eph 4:4 & Col 1:5) our hope is to be with Christ in heaven after we die (Eph1:3)

In reality this question makes 0 sense.

But Jesus; resurrection makes tons of sense to the JW,s-- but Jesus asked for his death to be remembered--- anything else celebrated is a tradition of men and Gods word says---By the traditions of men, you make the word of God invalid. Especially when pagan additives straight off the table of demons is involved( 1Cor 10:21)--- but why is it only JW,s understand this?

" The Resurrection of Jesus Means Life! "

JESUS’ resurrection is not merely an isolated, ancient occurrence that has little meaning for us today. The apostle Paul pointed out its significance when he wrote: “Christ has been raised up from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep in death. For since death is through a man, resurrection of the dead is also through a man. For just as in Adam all are dying, so also in the Christ all will be made alive.”—1 Corinthians 15:20-22.

Jesus was resurrected on Nisan 16, 33 C.E., the day of the year on which the Jews presented the firstfruits of the first grain crop before Jehovah God at the temple sanctuary in Jerusalem. By calling Jesus the firstfruits, Paul implied that there would be other individuals brought back from death.

Paul’s next words explain what has been made possible by Jesus’ resurrection. “Since death is through a man,” said Paul, “resurrection of the dead is also through a man.” Because of the sin and imperfection passed on to us from Adam, we all die. However, by giving his perfect human life as a ransom, Jesus opened the way for mankind to be released from slavery to sin and death through the resurrection. Summing up the matter nicely, Paul wrote at Romans 6:23: “The wages sin pays is death, but the gift God gives is everlasting life by Christ Jesus our Lord.”

Jesus himself explained the meaning that his death and resurrection have for us. Referring to himself, he said: “The Son of man must be lifted up, that everyone believing in him may have everlasting life. For God loved the world so much that he gave his only-begotten Son, in order that everyone exercising faith in him might not be destroyed but have everlasting life.”—John 3:14-16.

Imagine—endless life without pain, suffering, or sorrow! (Revelation 21:3, 4) What a happy prospect! One scholar put the matter this way: “While graveyards may remind one of the brevity of life, the resurrection ensures the brevity of death.” Yes, the resurrection of Jesus means life!

Here are the read scriptures:

(Romans 6:23) For the wages sin pays is death, but the gift God gives is everlasting life by Christ Jesus our Lord.

(John 3:14-16) 14 And just as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, so the Son of man must be lifted up, 15 so that everyone believing in him may have everlasting life. 16 “For God loved the world so much that he gave his only-begotten Son, so that everyone exercising faith in him might not be destroyed but have everlasting life.

(Revelation 21:3, 4) 3 With that I heard a loud voice from the throne say: “Look! The tent of God is with mankind, and he will reside with them, and they will be his people. And God himself will be with them. 4 And he will wipe out every tear from their eyes, and death will be no more, neither will mourning nor outcry nor pain be anymore. The former things have passed away.”