在基督徒的信仰中，有兩個日子是非常重要的，第一個是聖誕節，第二個就是復活節。在一般人的心目中，聖誕節似乎比復活節要受歡迎和重要得多。聖誕節可能是因為慶祝耶穌的生日，再加上聖經對當時的情景的描寫，使人有一種喜悅、平安和快樂的感覺。復活節卻與耶穌的苦難和死亡、並門徒的困惑緊密連在一起，給人們帶來許多悲傷和深沉的感想。因此，人們喜歡慶祝聖誕節多於復活節，甚至連基督徒也是如此。
保羅在哥林多前書中卻有不同的看法，並且指出耶穌的復活是我們信仰的基礎（林前15:17-19）。我們可以說，聖誕節之所以有意義乃是因為復活節，因為基督如果沒有復活，祂便不過是眾多的智者或宗教家中的一位。如果耶穌沒有復活，他給人類的貢獻就不是拯救，最多不過是留下一個聖人的榜樣，或一些發人深省的箴言和教訓等。
然而耶穌必須要復活，證明祂不只是一位智者、道德教師或宗教家，祂乃是祂所說的神的兒子。門徒因為經歷了復活的耶穌，改變了他們對耶穌的認識，確信祂就是神成為了人的彌賽亞。
耶穌必須要復活，不然祂便無法拯救我們，因為拯救包括兩個結果：第一是罪得赦免；第二是得著新的生命（約3:16）。在天下人間，除了神沒有人有能力和權柄赦免人的罪，也沒有人能賜人新的生命。耶穌必須以復活來證明祂是神，可以赦免信靠祂的人，又可以賜與我們新的生命，正如祂曾創造了我們的生命一樣。
耶穌必須要復活，因為祂應許要與我們同在。我們雖然因信耶穌而得救，但我們還沒有成為完全，新的生命需要成長，祂的復活是要應驗同在的應許。我們在人生的掙扎中不至於絕望，乃是因為復活的主今天仍然活著！
There are two important dates in our Christian faith, which are Christmas and Easter. But to the publics, Christmas seems to be more important and welcomed than Easter. There may be reasons that Christmas is the season of celebrating Jesus’ birthday, together with the beautiful images that the Bible gives to the birth of Jesus, which give people the feeling of peace and joy. Easter, however, is so closely related to the death and suffering of the Lord, and the agony of His disciples that gives people the feelings of sadness and depression. Therefore, people like to celebrate Christmas more than Easter, and it is sometimes even true to many Christians.
Interestingly, however, that Paul gave us a quite different perspective when he wrote the First Corinthians, and has clearly confirmed that the resurrection of Jesus was the foundation of our faith (1 Cor 15:17-19). Christmas, from this perspective, gains its significance from Easter, for if Christ did not resurrect He was only just one of many wise men or religious leaders. If Jesus did not resurrect from death, His contribution to us was not salvation, but only leaving us with a model of a sage or some inspiring sayings.
Jesus had to resurrect from death for He needed to prove himself not being only as wise man, a moral teacher or a religious leader, but also as what He said to be the Son of God. The disciples, because of having experienced Jesus’ resurrection, had changed their perception on Jesus, and were convinced that He was the God-incarnated Messiah.
Jesus had to resurrect from death, or otherwise, he is not able to save us, for salvation will bring two consequences, and they are sin being forgiven and new life (John 3:16). No person under heaven is able to forgive sin and give new life to anybody except God. Jesus had to resurrect from death to prove that he is God, and has the power and authority to forgive our sin and give us new lives just as God had created us lives.
Jesus had to resurrect from death to fulfill His promise of being with us always. We are saved when we have received Jesus as our Savior, but we are not perfect yet. For helping us to grow, Jesus has promised to be with us. It is because He lives, we will not be despaired even though we have so many struggles in life.
