Text: 1 Corinthians 15:1-26.
Subject; What does Jesus’ resurrection tell us about our inevitable(impending) death?
Compliment; his resurrection is the first fruits of our resurrection!
Big idea; Jesus’ resurrection is the guarantee of our resurrection!
Introduction/attention -
Pastor Earl had an uncanny ability to hire outstanding staff. Mike & Brigitte…Bill Mugford… Wayne H…Billy Richards…. Dan McNaughton…Scott Doggart…Janice Foss… Harry Belyrian…
But not me!
A few months ago, during one of our visits, Pastor McNutt showed me his funeral service in detail – and asked me to preach the funeral message – not because I was his preferred preacher – but because he didn’t hire me!
…As a way of not choosing one of his exceptional former staff over another - he decided to ask me – the person he didn’t hire!
I quickly accepted with appreciation.
For a good number of years now, on the wall of my pastoral study (office) I have a picture of 5 influential men …
o My Dad – John Penney
o Val’s Dad – Ed Goodridge
o Haddon Robinson- my professor & mentor
o George Davis
o Earl McNutt
(all but George Davis – who is here today – are now “absent from the body and present with the Lord”)
I first met Pastor McNutt in the fall of 1984.
I was a student at Wycliffe College in the M Div program – just a 15-minute walk from Stone Church.
I needed an internship – Stone Church had hosted other Wycliffe students over the years – like Wayne Hilsden – and was therefore recommended by the school.
I attended a service with a couple of other Pentecostal students…and was fascinated by the cultural mix of the church and Pastor McNutt pastoral leadership.
I stayed at Stone for 3 years as an intern.
I was involved in the Men’s ministry, the mid-week prayer gathering and the thriving college and careers ministry. Through it all, Pastor McNutt became my Pastor.
When I was planning to propose to Val, he gave his endorsement and referred me to a jeweler who attended Stone named Joseph Gul.
Joseph supplied me with a beautiful diamond on a student’s budget!
Over the years, we became friends.
…and when I graduated from Wycliffe and got involved in planting Harvest Assembly in 1987, Stone church helped us out with some monthly support and Pastor Earl was a listening ear.
I must also acknowledge Janice Foss, Stone’s admin person too for her frequent admin. advice)
So, from age 23 to now… - is 40 years (!) – that’s quite an enduring relationship.
And now Earl has “graduated.”
My text for today is 1 Cor 15
3 For what I received I passed on to you as of first importance: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, 4 that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures, 5 and that he appeared to Cephas, and then to the Twelve. …
… 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. 21 For since death came through a man, the resurrection of the dead comes also through a man. 22 For as in Adam all die, so in Christ all will be made alive. 23 But each in turn: Christ, the first fruits; then, when he comes, those who belong to him. 24 Then the end will come, when he hands over the kingdom to God the Father after he has destroyed all dominion, authority and power. 25 For he must reign until he has put all his enemies under his feet. 26 The last enemy to be destroyed is death.
…Life’s grandest problem is not can we land a spacecraft rocket booster – weighing 250 tons - back on earth – precisely into its cradle…
(that was impressive!) … but death – death is our ever present, …most feared, and most powerful enemy… and last to be destroyed. It is death that inflicts the most pain and sorrow in this wonderful world.
The Corinthian church had a problem – people in the church were starting to die off – and it shook them up.
While all ancient cultures believed in an afterlife …it appears the Corinthians were rejecting Paul’s teaching of a bodily resurrection and returning to the Greek idea that limited the afterlife to a disembodied soul.
…and, they may have been expecting the quick return of Christ to deal death a knockout punch
…and when that didn’t happen - they began to say, “…there’s no resurrection – people are dying and there’s no hope.
…indeed, grief is doubly awful if it’s actually the end.
We see this culture of death & despair gaining ground in the 21st century… abortion…euthanasia… medically assisted death is now a “right.”
The wonderful writer, Calvin Miller put it this way in his gospel allegory, called “The Singer” (where Jesus is allegorized as the singer)
“All birth is but the prelude onto death and every cradle swung above a grave.
The sun made weary trips from east to west, time found no shore and
culture screamed and raved. The world in peaceless orbits sped along
and waited for the Singer and his song.”
Death is our enemy – we have all experienced the burden of grief – some tragically…
and thankfully some - Like Pastor McNutt, live a full life span. But when death comes, we fight it. We grieve the loss.
Death is … a cruel enemy…always lurking around the corner.
So, we buy life insurance… we wear seatbelts… we wear helmets when we play contact sports.
Car manufacturers are (with the encouragement of govt and watchdogs) ever improving their safety features.
…So called “big pharma” produces an infinite number of prescription drugs to keep us alive longer.
…Calvin Miller was right – “every cradle swings above a grave…”
**Solution – into this world of tragedy, sickness and death, walks Jesus of Nazareth.
The only one to defeat death – his resurrection was not a resuscitation and therefore a mere delay of death - his resurrection signaled his victory over death.
Christ died for our sins
On the third day he rose from the dead – according to the scriptures!
Paul’s letter gives an emphatic reply to our last and most oppressive enemy…
20 But Christ has indeed been raised from the dead, the first fruits of those who have fallen asleep. 21 For since death came through a man, the resurrection of the dead comes also through a man. 22 For as in Adam all die, so in Christ all will be made alive.
Jesus defeated death on our behalf… our long standing and greatest enemy has been conquered … “The death of death.”
Jesus, son of God,
Jesus, the suffering servant,
*Jesus, the holder of the keys of life and death.
“I have come to give you life Jesus declared, “life to the full.”
To grieving Martha, Jesus declared 25 … “I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in me will live, even though they die; 26 and whoever lives by believing in me will never die.” (John 11)
…Jesus has defeated death -- And his resurrection, is the “first fruits” or the downpayment on our resurrection.
Without Jesus defeat of death and his resurrection – the Christian gospel collapses – and Paul understands this point better than anyone – it was his encounter with the risen Christ that turned Saul of Tarsus from a persecutor of the church - to a preacher of the gospel and its greatest champion.
The implications of no resurrection are enormous,
… our preaching is useless!
… we are still in our sins!
… we are false witnesses!
… life is much less than promised – and we deserve only pity!
That’s not exactly good news – it’s horrible news.
But Paul was utterly convinced that Jesus had beaten death.
He appeared to me say Paul… and to peter…to the 12…and to 500!!!
***(what would that church service be like!)
…imagine missing that service!!!
And these 500 are mostly still around if you want to speak to them, says Paul!
Imagine…there is a day coming, says Paul…what the bible calls, “the great bodily resurrection… when the dead in Christ will rise from their resting place.
…And will be given a new body – a body immune from death and disease...from aging and dementia… from knees and hips that need a titanium upgrades.
How is it possible?...
Verse 15 ? some will ask, “how are the dead raised?”
Paul tries to explain it – but it’s difficult to explain
…. 37 When you sow, you do not plant the body that will be, but just a seed, perhaps of wheat or of something else. 38 But God gives it a body as he has determined, and to each kind of seed he gives its own body.
… 42 So will it be with the resurrection of the dead.
The body that is sown is perishable, it is raised imperishable; it is sown in dishonor, it is raised in glory;
it is sown in weakness, it is raised in power;
it is sown a natural body, it is raised a spiritual body.
If there is a natural body, there is also a spiritual body.
45 …And just as we have borne the image of the earthly man, so shall we bear the image of the heavenly man.
Now this is very good news indeed – this is the climax of the gospel!
Incredible words… these are the greatest words to proclaim at a funeral or “celebration of life.”
– I prefer celebration of eternal life”!
Paul is trying to describe and explain something beautiful and yet mysterious too.
• No more funerals
• No more hospitals
• No more seniors’ homes
Look at the pictures of younger years – we all have them … and you’ve seen pictures of the younger Earl McNutt today.
• Isn’t aging relentless and unstoppable… and it’s just a prelude to death.
Calvin Miller was right, “every cradle swings above a grave.”
But Jesus resurrection makes all the difference! – victory over sin - salvation – the abiding presence of the Holy Spirit - and the promise of eternal life – with a new and perfect body.
Now that my friends is very good news.
In fact, I might say – it’s so good – it’s almost unbelievable.
Who among us can grasp eternity?
**Next steps… Now, Let me read the opening verses of this 15th chapter…
15 Now, brothers and sisters, I want to remind you of the gospel I preached to you, which you received and on which you have taken your stand. 2 By this gospel you are saved, if you hold firmly to the word I preached to you.
…This is the gospel that Pastor McNutt faithfully preached.
Many of you here today have also “received it” by faith.
I implore you, as Paul implored the Corinthians - and as P. McNutt did – “hold to it firmly.”
If you have not yet believed in Christ for your personal salvation – I encourage you to put your trust in him today – and the promise of resurrection can be yours too.
This is the gospel that saves us from death and provides us an eternal inheritance.
Let me remind you says Paul? … “Christ died for our sins…he was buried…he was raised on the third day”
By this gospel we are saved!
3… For what I received I passed on to you as of first importance: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, 4 that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures, 5 and that he appeared to Cephas, and then to the Twelve.
Conclusion… my big idea - Jesus’ resurrection guarantees our resurrection!
No …pastor McNutt isn’t playing golf up in heaven and looking down on us.
(…I don’t think he ever played the game in fact)
You know the verse that says “absent from the body – present with the Lord…”
Indeed, he is with the Lord – but he’s not yet received his new body – that will happen at the return of Christ and the resurrection of those who belong to Christ.
P. McNutt was a faithful witness to the gospel – for which we are so very grateful
Earl, may I call you Earl- just this once? … You fought the good fight with integrity and humility, you have now finished the race (for you it was indeed a marathon), you remained faithful to your calling. And now the prize awaits —the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give you on the day of his return.
…And the prize is not just for P. McNutt - but for all who eagerly anticipate our Lord’s appearing. (2 Tim 4:7)
On Friday, March 8th, a few of us took P. McNutt out for lunch… it was a special day and joy filled – it gave occasion to reflect on good memories and tell some stories.
95 years!
…A week before his passing, I had opportunity to visit P. McNutt at the Markham- Stouffville hospital.
He was filled with hope – certain of his destiny - and looking forward to being with the Lord.
What a wonderful witness to the promise of the gospel and the triumph of our Lord Jesus Christ.
James Weldon Johnson once wrote,
When I start down the steep and slippery steps of death—
When this old world begins to rock beneath my feet—
Lower me to my dusty grave in peace
To wait for that great gittin’ up morning – Amen.
I conclude with a few lines from George Herbert in his classic poem from 1633, called “The Dawning.”
Awake sad heart, whom sorrow ever drowns;
Take up thine eyes, which feed on earth;
Unfold thy forehead, gather’d into frowns:
Thy Saviour comes, and with him mirth:
Awake, awake;
And with a thankful heart his comforts take.
But thou dost still lament, and pine, and crie;
And feel his death, but not his victorie.
**Arise sad heart; if thou dost not withstand,
Christ’s resurrection thine may be:
Do not by hanging down break from the hand,
Which as it riseth, raiseth thee:
Arise, Arise;
And with his burial-linen drie thine eyes:
Christ left his graveclothes, that we might, when grief
Draws tears, or blood, not want a handkerchief.
Jesus’ resurrection signals the defeat of our last and greatest enemy - death itself.
Jesus’ resurrection is the guarantee of our future resurrection!
Signed, sealed and delivered.
Signed in blood,
Sealed with the Spirit,
Delivered by Christ at his coming.
