(By Thor Knutstad)
We recently looked at the resurrection of Lazarus in part one. In the plot of the Gospel story, the Scriptures in John 11 begin to unfold this great conflict between Jesus and the Sanhedrin. Like the hammer and nails, these leaders become the very tools of our Lord’s death in His suffering and crucifixion. In today’s blog, it is not my goal to sideswipe the power of Good Friday and King Jesus’ sacrificial death for our sin. If you want to read more about that, I would suggest that you go to Isaiah 53, the Gospels of Matthew/Mark/Luke/John (latter chapter narratives), Philippians 2:1-11 (which is one of Pastor Nate’s favorite passages where the “Deity-humility” of King Jesus is explained and on which is preached and repeated often at LFA – and I love this because it’s one of my absolute favorites as well); or maybe you can read the various epistles of Paul where the death of Christ and those benefits are explained (the Pauline epistles, especially Romans 1-6, but it is also explicitly mentioned in Hebrews). Again, it is not my heart to bypass the centrality of Jesus’ death as our substitute for sin. He gave His life for us. He died for sin. He who had no sin became sin for us in our place. There is no atonement for sin without the shedding of His precious blood. He is the Lamb slain for the world. Enough said. You get the picture. At least I hope you do. His death on the cross for sin means everything. But like my previous article, I want to focus on the resurrection. His resurrection changes everything. And I mean it – everything.
The second half of the Gospel of the book of John (chapter 11-end) starts with the miracle of Jesus raising Lazarus from the dead. It was a miracle of Christ’s Power, Deity and glory. It propelled the Jewish leaders to hate King Jesus all the more. But it set the table for His own resurrection. To feel the full power of Good Friday and His sacrifice, I have encouraged you to open your Bible. Gospel fluency becomes easier when we, like the Bereans in Acts 17, become eager to search the Scriptures to see if what someone says is true. Right now, I want you to put down your smartphone/laptop/tablet and read the greatest passage on the resurrection of King Jesus: 1 Corinthians chapter 15. You don’t have to read the whole book of 1 Corinthians (I know that some of you who read this will want to read it all and put that chapter in its proper context – that’s fine. But this chapter stands alone and can be isolated as a treatise concerning the theology and the doctrine and the first importance of Christ’s resurrection as Gospel central significant). So please stop and read 1 Corinthians right now two times – Not once, but twice. If you think this would benefit a friend or your spouse or your children or grandchildren, read this aloud to them sometime between Friday and Sunday this coming Easter weekend. It is the core of the Gospel and it is why we are all on mission to have Gospel conversations with our neighbors and friends and family and with anyone who would listen. Yes, I am asking you to read the whole chapter of 1 Corinthians 15 - twice. This is probably Paul’s greatest summary in all of his New Testament writings concerning the first importance facts of the Gospel. I love how we celebrate the Birth “Incarnation”, ‘in flesh’) appearing of our LORD Jesus during Christmastime. There is so much joy in knowing that our God King stepped off of the eternal throne and in humility became human flesh. But maybe Good Friday and Easter are actually greater than His birth? Maybe we should see this Gospel of His death and resurrection as the greatest gift ever? Did you stop and read 1 Corinthians 15 at least two times yet? You will have to forgive the teacher and pastoral counselor in me. Anyone who knows me knows that I am not afraid to repeat myself. I need the gift of repetition in learning. We all do ☺ - that was two times. Yes, you got it!
As I ponder what Paul is saying in 1 Corinthians 15, I find many effects of the resurrection of Christ Jesus. Some of these are derived logically from Scriptural truths, and others can be directly cited with biblical chapter and verse. But the facts remain – there are many effects and benefits of the resurrection. All of eternity hinges on this great and forever resurrection. In other words, the resurrection of King Jesus the Christ does, but is not limited to, the following:
- Testifies to the Deity of Christ that Jesus is God; he is a third of the equal and triune God-head. Period.
- Testifies to His power over death as the author of life (Creator) and that death has no power over Him.
- Guarantees our future resurrection; we will rise. Death will not hold us and has no hold on us. Forever. Guaranteed. I love it!
- Pronounces Jesus as Prince and King at the highest level of worship; He is on the throne.
- Perpetuates hope over sin and death; this hope is an anchor to soul, firm and secure.
- Creates a witness for Gospel fluency; it makes Gospel conversations easier (not harder). Why? What other belief system serves or believes in a risen Savior? What God has died for and risen for His people? None. Period. All other religions are straw arguments. Period.
- Heals all grief and sadness from death and unites us to others who have died (and are risen) before us. This gives us a greater hope as death surrounds us often and puts this temporary life in eternal perspective.
- Centralizes the most important part of the entire Gospel of Good News – it is of first importance (1 Corinthians 15:3-4 and the whole chapter). Paul never says this in all of his other writings. It serves us well to pay careful attention to the resurrection of King Jesus (see Romans 10 as well).
- Guarantees that we will be liberated from the bondage of weakness, sickness, sin, decay, and even death. This gives us freedom to move and live through things that are very difficult – hurt, pain, broken relationships, and suffering that eventually lead us to this greater hope. The burdens of life are a bit easier to bear. But they are still hard, for sure!
- Brings the reality of faith and hope to the crux of loving well. The resurrection as followed by Jesus’ death shows us how much He loves us as it secures our eternal dwelling with Him and in His presence forever.
- Puts Jesus in position to intercede on our behalf at the Father’s right hand throne.
- Fulfills all (and I mean all) Messianic prophecies from the Old Testament Scriptures and the writings of the true prophets who spoke toward a future Savior who would redeem His people (note the phrase “according to the Scriptures” in 1 Cor. 15).
- Closes the parallel gap between Adam (sin and death) to Christ (righteousness, life and resurrection).
- Jesus’ new body guarantees our new bodies as believing Christ-followers – new resurrected bodies raised imperishable, raised in glory, raised in power, and raised as a spiritual body that bears His finished likeness. What a finished work He makes of us!
- Swallows death up in victory by our warrior Lion of Judah, King Jesus the Christ and Messiah. You see, my King is a death killer. He is God the gladiator and the true Braveheart. He is that lion who charges to the front of the battle to face the enemy Satan without hesitation. Have you ever noticed how the real drama of this battle and war cannot really fully be captured on the movie big screen? There’s just too much going on in the unseen world. Too much is happening. His resurrection ultimately swallows death in victory. It is the deciding blow to Satan’s kingdom attempt. And the sword of our King cuts deep into the enemy. Victory is sealed. We win the war. And winning the war will be seen in real life as the consequences of the Gospel unfold. Judgment is pending and the medals of valor as crowns will be the blessings of the saints. Does the crown of life await you?
- Reveals Jesus as the Resurrection and the Life. He is King over all aspects of life and a “death-destroying God.” This sin and death conquering King wins because He is life.
- Causes us to not lose hope in our hearts during tremendous affliction. The resurrection is a sustaining power to our hearts because though life tries to make us addicted to circumstances, our God calls us to focus on the unseen. We rise above situations because Jesus did just that – in His death and His life, and in His life resurrected.
- Makes His death make sense to us and completes the Gospel by making Jesus supreme and superior and better than all other religious systems, doctrines, teachings, and philosophies of life, etc. (see Hebrews for more on this).
- Causes our message to others not to be in vain. Christianity would be pointless without the resurrection. No resurrection means no Christian faith. But our message is true!
- Invites conversation because no one besides Jesus has conquered death in eternal form and eternal fashion. Death is an unstoppable force as a result of sin and the curse. But the death of Christ and His resurrection stops the unstoppable force of death and reverses that very curse. What a gracious, merciful and benevolent God we have! He so loves us!
Christ’s resurrection rolls away the heavy stone of death and buries death forever. As we celebrate Easter, pick one of the 20 things listed above that most impacts your heart, and read it before you pray over a weekend celebration meal with your family, friends, and neighbors. Testify to this Gospel. Do not be ashamed of this Gospel, dear brothers and dear sisters. For it is the cornerstone foundation of our very faith. Resurrected Jesus means resurrected you and much more! Praise Him, our resurrected King Jesus!
