Celebrating Resurrection

“It does make sense to celebrate that.”

It is true, isn’t it, that a lot of the Easter story is incredibly sad. Crucifixion was an absolutely horrific way to die. And Jesus had done nothing wrong! He was loving, compassionate, forgiving, humble, obedient to God, willing to serve people. It was totally unjust but Jesus had to suffer the physical pain, the shame, and even separation from His Father.

But He was willing to die. That simply shows how much He loves us.

That was Friday. On the Sunday the tomb was empty; Jesus was alive again. “It does make sense to celebrate that.”

In 1 Corinthians 15, Paul says that Jesus’ resurrection is firmly linked to our salvation, our eternal life.

There are four possibilities:

1.     Jesus was not raised and there is no life after death for us.

2.     Jesus was raised but we will not be.

3.     Jesus was not raised but we will have eternal life.

4.     Jesus was raised and so will we be.

Let’s read 1 Corinthians 15: 12-20. (It is a little bit complicated so don’t worry if you don’t get all of it. We are going to explore it.)

12 But if it is preached that Christ has been raised from the dead, how can some of you say that there is no resurrection of the dead? 13 If there is no resurrection of the dead, then not even Christ has been raised. 14 And if Christ has not been raised, our preaching is useless and so is your faith. 15 More than that, we are then found to be false witnesses about God, for we have testified about God that he raised Christ from the dead. But he did not raise him if in fact the dead are not raised. 16 For if the dead are not raised, then Christ has not been raised either. 17 And if Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile; you are still in your sins. 18 Then those also who have fallen asleep in Christ are lost. 19 If only for this life we have hope in Christ, we are of all people most to be pitied. 20 But Christ has indeed been raised from the dead, the first fruits of those who have fallen asleep.

Let’s start with v.12: If it is preached that Christ has been raised, how can some of you say that there is no resurrection of the dead?

Either there is life after death or there is not. You cannot say Jesus was raised and then say that there is no life after death. There either is or there isn’t.

That is the top right quadrant. That’s not possible.

The last part of v.15 says that same thing: “God did not raise Jesus if, in fact, the dead are not raised.”

And again in v.16: “If the dead are not raised, then Christ has not been raised either.”

What about the bottom left quadrant: Jesus was not raised but we will be. That doesn’t make sense. Why would we have eternal life but Jesus doesn’t? That’s impossible.

V.14: “If Christ has not been raised, our preaching is useless and so is your faith.” If Christ has not been raised then there is no hope for us. You cannot have Him not raised and us raised. Impossible.

v.17-18: If Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile; you are still in your sins. Then those also who have fallen asleep [in other words, died] in Christ are lost.

If Christ has not been raised, there is no resurrection for us.

v.13 talks about the top left quadrant. “If there is no resurrection of the dead, then not even Christ has been raised.” That is possible: there is no life after death – not for Jesus and not for us.

But that is a very bad prospect. As we have just read: preaching the gospel is useless, faith is useless, we are still in our sins, we are lost.

v.19 – If only for this life we have hope in Christ, we are to be pitied more than all others.

So, two quadrants are impossible, and one is very bad.

But, in v.20 Paul says, “But Christ has indeed been raised from the dead, the first fruits of those who have fallen asleep.” That narrows it down to one remaining quadrant. The truth is: Christ has been raised from the dead. We can philosophise about what if He wasn’t, but He was, and that means we will be. He is the first of many. A little further down in this passage, Paul says, “All will be made alive… Christ first… then all who belong to Him” (vv.22-23)

It does make sense to celebrate that! Because of Jesus’ death and His resurrection, those who belong to Jesus will rise to eternal life. Of course, the key thing is being sure that we belong to Him – that we have said yes to following Lord and Saviour Jesus.

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