Jesus has risen! He is risen indeed! Let's read 1 Corinthians 15:1-8,19-23,51-58.
In the past Easter services, I have responded to some theories that deny Jesus's resurrection, like the Fainting Theory, which states that actually, Jesus was not dead yet, but they thought he did; the Replacement Theory, which states that the one who was nailed on the cross was not Jesus, but Judas or someone that God made resembles Jesus which Quran says. And also, the Lying Theory states that Jesus' disciples secretly stole the body of Jesus, but they claimed that Jesus was resurrected from the dead. All of those theories are baseless.
We also have learned much evidence that Jesus resurrected from the dead, like (a) the change in the disciples. John Stott says, "Perhaps the transformation of the disciples is the greatest evidence of all for the resurrection… When Jesus died, they were heartbroken, confused, and frightened. But within less than two months, they came out of hiding, full of joy, confidence, and courage. What can account for this dramatic transformation? Only the resurrection, together with Pentecost, followed soon afterward. And this bizarre group of primarily uneducated men went on to change the world. (b) the eyewitness accounts. The Bible recorded that Jesus appeared eleven times to people after his death. He appeared to individuals and disciples and once appeared to a group of over 500 people (as Paul said in verses 5 to 8). (c) The Roman and Jewish leaders couldn't disprove it. (d) The disciples were willing to die for their beliefs. Praise God, Jesus Christ has indeed been raised from the dead (V. 20)!
Today, we'll learn the impact of Jesus's resurrection from the dead on us.
I. Jesus's resurrection gives us hope beyond this life. We know that life is difficult! And it seems life will be more difficult. There have been mainstream and social media headlines everywhere over the last two weeks proclaiming that the dollar is now facing its imminent demise. Currently, central banks hold about 60 percent of their foreign exchange reserves in American dollars. And about half of international trade, loans, and global debt securities are invoiced in US dollars. In foreign exchange markets, where currencies are traded, the dollar is involved in nearly 90 percent of all transactions. But the BRICS collective, comprising Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa, is working on a common currency to ditch the US dollar and push back against America's dominance. When the dollar collapses, the consequences will be horrific; one of them is that inflation will be at levels we have never seen because of higher import costs and mass money printing. Looting is everywhere and has caused some stores, like Walmart at Hayden Meadows and Eastport Plaza in Portland, to close. As Christians who want to apply biblical teachings on sex, marriage, and family, we'll face more challenges, persecution, and even murder, like what happened at a Christian elementary school in Nashville where a trans who hated conservative Christians shot and killed three children and three adults on March 27.
The Lord Jesus and the apostles have told us that as long as we live in the world, we will experience many difficulties. And the more we want to live godly lives, the more trouble and suffering we will encounter because the world hates us. But we need not be afraid. Jesus Christ, our Lord, lives. He doesn't live in a cemetery. He lives so He can be with us and help us. Even if we suffer in this world, are persecuted and killed like what our brothers and sisters are experiencing in many places today, we know that we will enter the heavenly life together with Jesus. Our hope goes beyond our present life on earth. Apostle Paul said: "If only for this life we have hope in Christ, we are of all people most to be pitied." (v. 19).
The world has fallen into sin, full of problems, suffering, and evil. So, if our only hope is in this world, how pitiful and in vain are Christians willing to suffer for the Lord Jesus? How unfortunate are people who are born with disabilities so that they suffer a lifetime of suffering, like people who are born blind, deaf, without arms and legs, have multiple sclerosis, have mental retardation, and so on? Or what about someone who, like my daughter-in-law, has had a severe accident and has been crippled for life? The answer is that all of that is just temporary suffering. One day they will have new perfect, and glorious bodies like the resurrected body of Christ.
II. We will be resurrected too. V. 23 explains, "But each in turn: Christ, the firstfruits; then, when he comes, those who belong to him." Also, v. 51-52 says, "Listen, I tell you a mystery: We will not all sleep, but we will all be changed— in a flash, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, the dead will be raised imperishable, and we will be changed."
The resurrection of Jesus Christ means that we will be raised like Him. Christ is described as the firstfruits of the resurrection from the dead, meaning that His resurrection is a precursor to the resurrection that all believers will experience (1 Corinthians 15:20). Because of that, it brings us to the next point:
III. Jesus's resurrection changes our perspective on death. Before the resurrection, death was the final curtain call. Before the resurrection, we could only mourn like those with no hope. But after the resurrection, when someone dies in the Lord, we mourn because we have lost a loved one. But we mourn as people who have great hope because Jesus Christ is alive, and Scripture promises that if He is alive, we, too, can live forever. His shed blood forgives our sins, and we have the promise of everlasting life. It changes the whole concept of death itself.
IV. Our labor in the Lord is not in vain. The Apostle Paul ends his lengthy explanation of Christ's and our resurrection by calling in V. 58: "Therefore, my dear brothers and sisters, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain." If we genuinely believe that Jesus has risen, we must stand firm in facing challenges in this world. And second, we must give ourselves fully to the work of the Lord. Christians who claim to believe that Jesus died and rose again but do nothing for their church and God's Kingdom show that they focused on temporary things, and they have not fully understood that their labor in the Lord is not in vain.
Because we'll be resurrected, what we do for God in this world will accompany us and bring rewards to us. God appreciates our ministry and commitment to supporting His church. Therefore, Jesus tells His disciples: "Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moths and vermin destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moths and vermin do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also" (Matthew 6:19-21).
Jesus is alive! We will live forever too! Happy Resurrection Day!
