For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received: that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures…. (1 Corinthians 15:1-4, ESV)
Like most golfers, you were glued to the television this past Sunday afternoon. If you were rooting for Rory, you were emotionally exhausted when it was all over.
Rory’s seven-iron from the fifteenth fairway was “one for the ages.” His seven-iron from the seventeenth fairway was magical. His final wedge shot was the stuff of legend.
More than any other shots, his shots up and over trees were magnificent. Not once, but twice on the front side, he was “dead.” Everyone knows that camera angles on the “Telly” can be misleading. Yet, when the on-course commentator says that “going up” is risky, we understand that getting the ball up and over towering trees that quickly and carrying it to the green is highly improbable.
When we say Rory was “dead” after his tee shots on Five and Seven, we mean he had little to no chance of getting it on the green, let alone close to the hole. Combining talent, strength, and moxie, he nearly jarred it on the hole called “Pampas.”
When we use the metaphor “dead” in golf, we mean something like, “He is smack dab behind that tree” or “He is so far right, we’ll never find it.”
However, when we say with Paul that “Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures, that he was buried, and that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures…” we express something far beyond a metaphor; we affirm alongside eyewitnesses that Jesus was physically raised from the dead.
Paul argues that Jesus Christ’s resurrection in an immortal body solidifies the truth of the Christian faith. In this context, Paul corrects the mistaken idea that a bodily resurrection of anyone is impossible. More importantly, he calls to our attention the significance of Christ’s resurrection. In short, the bare fact is one thing; what the fact signifies is critically important.
Perhaps, like Plato, some believed that only the soul survives death. Maybe some agreed with Hedonism that nothing survives death. According to this view, neither soul nor body lives beyond the grave.
To make his point, Paul appeals to three lines of proof: 1) Old Testament Scripture, 2) Eyewitness accounts, and 3) Irrefutable logic.
The Old Testament Scriptures speak of Jesus’ life, death, and resurrection long before they occurred in history. And Scripture does it with an exactitude that can only be explained by the overarching providence of an all-wise, all-powerful, purposeful God directing history to his appointed ends.
The eyewitness accounts are instructive for more reasons than we explore here. Suffice it to say that when Paul states that five hundred people saw Jesus in an immortal body, he implies something like the following: “These people are still alive, so go ask them.”
Then, with irrefutable logic, Paul flips his opponent’s argument on its head by assuming his opponent’s premises to illustrate the absurdity of their position.
Paul convincingly argues, “If the dead are not raised, then Christ is not raised (vs. 13). And, if Christ is not raised, then 1) all preaching is worthless (vs.14), 2) the Christian faith is a hoax (vs.14), 3) the apostles are liars (vs. 15), 4) we all remain in the guilt and shame of sin (vs. 17), 5) those who have died will never be seen again (vs. 18), and 6) Christians should be pitied as naïve fools (vs.19).
After exposing this fallacy, Paul says, “But Christ has been raised from the dead!” Therefore, preaching is good news, our faith is rooted in historical truth, the apostles are trustworthy, we are freed from sin and shame, we will see our loved ones again, and Christians should be perceived as discerningly wise, not fools.
“Yes sir!” Christ’s death, burial, and resurrection substantiate all the truth claims made by our Savior and Lord.
Hallelujah! Christ Is Risen!
Prayer: Jesus! Empower us to proclaim the resurrection of Christ Jesus boldly!