We live in a world powered by extremes. It seems that everywhere we turn, we are told that knowing what to do is of utmost importance. The next election, selecting the correct life insurance, purchasing the safest vehicle for your family, making the right decision about your cell phone plan, or what brand of toothpaste is best for your kids, these decisions are important.
As a follower of Christ, we are often reminded that each decision should be made through the lens of Scripture and that our lives should be centered around loving God, loving others and making disciples. But, the pressure to know the most important information is sometimes daunting. We have so much information at our fingertips, yet we are often overwhelmed with all that we can know and struggle to identify the right priorities in our lives.
As we approach this Easter season, perhaps we could ponder a question. What is the most important thing you can know? In 1 Corinthians 15, Paul seems to make it abundantly clear. He writes, “For I passed on to you as most important what I also received: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, that He was buried, that he was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures” (CSB, emphasis added).
There is nothing more important! Jesus, the Son of God, came to this earth, took on human flesh and died for our sins. Then, He was resurrected, fulfilling the Scriptures and making a way for salvation. This is the gospel!
Our world is filled with difficult things. All around us we see and hear news of arguments, war, division, economic struggle, strife, calamity and death. In the midst of all of this, it can feel overwhelming to find hope or joy.
Picture it: Jesus, the eternal God, takes on human flesh, lives a sinless life, dies in our place and then, three days later, rises from the dead. This, my friends, is the glory of the resurrection – the awesomeness, the power, the authority. Jesus won! Death couldn’t defeat Him, and sin didn’t triumph.
Yet, in our Christian journey, we often get caught up in theological debates or discussions about various topics. But maybe, just maybe, it’s time for a reminder of the basics – the foundational truth that Easter introduces to many on the most attended Sunday of the year.
As Paul recounts the eyewitness testimonies in 1 Corinthians 15, it’s not just a historical event but a transformative one. Peter, who denied Jesus, became a foundational figure. James, Jesus’ skeptical brother, believed and wrote a book of the Bible. And then there’s Paul, a persecutor turned preacher, testifying that Jesus appeared to him.
Why does this matter? Because the resurrection is not just a historical fact; it’s a life-altering reality. It transforms murderers into pastors, skeptics into believers and enemies into ambassadors of grace. The resurrection, my friends, is the heart of Christianity.
And here’s the beautiful truth – we are not chosen because we are good or deserving. No, we are chosen by grace. Paul, who could boast about his accomplishments, humbly declares, “I am the least of the apostles.” Christianity isn’t about being better than others; it’s about being saved by grace.
As followers of our Lord, let’s be known for the resurrection. Not for historical controversies or cultural debates, but for sharing the good news of Jesus’ victory over death. That’s the essence of our faith – the most important thing we could ever know: Jesus is resurrected, and He’s alive.
(EDITOR’S NOTE – This article originally appeared in the March/April 2024 issue of the Biblical Recorder magazine. Josh Benfield serves as a lay elder at Fairview Baptist Church in Apex, N.C.)
