Easter 2022

David wrote in Psalm 16 concerning the Messiah;

“…because you will not abandon me to the realm of the dead, nor will you let your Holy One see decay.” (Psalm 16:10)

I heard of an Easter service where two churches decided to do the service together. One would do the worship part and the other preaching part.

The pastor of the other church stood up and began the Easter sermon with these words, “We all know that Jesus didn’t actually rise from the dead. That’s impossible. But it is a beautiful metaphor for new life that we celebrate at Easter.”

People were appalled and several decided to walk out of the service.

Listen to me. If Jesus isn’t alive right now, I would be playing golf poorly. I certainly would be here.

Later in the chapter Paul says it this way:

“And if Christ has not been raised, our preaching is useless and so is your faith. 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. For if the dead are not raised, then Christ has not been raised either. And if Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile; you are still in your sins. Then those also who have fallen asleep in Christ are lost. If only for this life we have hope in Christ, we are of all people most to be pitied.” (I Corinthians 15:14-19)

Jesus died for our sins, was buried, and was raised to life on the third day. That’s the Gospel.

Paul continues:

“But Christ has indeed been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep. For since death came through a man, the resurrection of the dead comes also through a man. For as in Adam all die, so in Christ all will be made alive.” (I Corinthians 15:20-22)

Then Paul provides proof through the eyewitness that saw Jesus.

Eyewitnesses

“…and that he appeared to Cephas, and then to the Twelve. After that, he appeared to more than five hundred of the brothers and sisters at the same time, most of whom are still living, though some have fallen asleep.Then he appeared to James, then to all the apostles, and last of all he appeared to me also, as to one abnormally born.” (I Corinthians 15:6-8)

Why did Jesus appear to these people? One reason is that there was a rumor that the disciples came and stole the body.

Who did He appear to?

Cephas or Peter

Peter had denied Jesus three times and was crushed after Jesus had died. He had lost hope and gone back to fishing. But Jesus sought him out, restored Him, and commissioned him to be a leader in the church.

Maybe you have lost hope today? Or you think what you have done is too bad? That’s not true.

Then to the twelve

They were eleven with the suicide of Judas. Everyone one of them had abandoned Jesus in the garden when He was arrested. They were filled with shame and guilt. They needed to see Jesus. They needed to be forgiven. And they were commissioned to spread the Gospel message to the whole world.