Good Friday: It’s Friday. Before diving in and focusing on today’s lesson, we would be wrong to skip over focusing on the crucifixion of Jesus. There is a good post I saw on the web today explaining why we call it Good Friday. You may read that here: http://contendearnestly.blogspot.com/2010/04/why-is-good-friday-good-john-calvin.html
Also, take a moment and watch this video:
Notice how the continued reminder in the song is “but Sunday’s comin’…” This is so very important. Without the glorious resurrection of Jesus on Sunday, we would have no reason to call Jesus’ death on Friday ‘good’. Instead, we’d call it dark Friday, tragic Friday, or just Friday. Because, if Jesus didn’t rise from the dead, he would be just another religious leader that some would respectfully remember, but not worship. Jesus died such a shameful, humiliating death that there would be very little reason to want to remember the day of his death. The death itself is so horrific people are disgusted even by the thought of it. Yet, year after year, Christians actually commemorate Jesus’ death and call it Good Friday.
Now, let’s begin the lesson…
Read: "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? If there is no resurrection of the dead, then not even Christ has been raised. 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 to be pitied more than all men.
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. But each in his own turn: Christ, the firstfruits; then, when he comes, those who belong to him. Then the end will come, when he hands over the kingdom to God the Father after he has destroyed all dominion, authority and power. For he must reign until he has put all his enemies under his feet. The last enemy to be destroyed is death. For he "has put everything under his feet."Now when it says that "everything" has been put under him, it is clear that this does not include God himself, who put everything under Christ. When he has done this, then the Son himself will be made subject to him who put everything under him, so that God may be all in all.
Now if there is no resurrection, what will those do who are baptized for the dead? If the dead are not raised at all, why are people baptized for them? And as for us, why do we endanger ourselves every hour? I die every day—I mean that, brothers—just as surely as I glory over you in Christ Jesus our Lord. If I fought wild beasts in Ephesus for merely human reasons, what have I gained? If the dead are not raised,
"Let us eat and drink,
for tomorrow we die."
Do not be misled: "Bad company corrupts good character." Come back to your senses as you ought, and stop sinning; for there are some who are ignorant of God—I say this to your shame." 1 Corinthians 15:12-34
Reflect: Some things in life have small consequences and other things in life have great consequences. If you forget to take a dog out before you leave for work you might return home to a an ‘accident’ on the floor. If, on the other hand, you leave the gas on your stove running while you are gone and then someone comes home and turns on a light you may just blow up your house. Both of these examples highlight two seemingly small thoughtless acts; but while the first act has the consequence of cleaning up a stain for a couple minutes the second act results in costly destruction and possible loss of life.
The resurrection is a lot like the second example. In writing to the Corinthians, Paul is answering the "if" question. Earlier in the week, questions of "what" and "why" were being addressed. Today, we are asked by Paul to reflect on what the consequences would be if there were no resurrection of the dead.
Often, Christians take too short a view of the hope that Jesus has promised. Many Christians today only see hope in regards to going to heaven when we die. I interviewed people on the streets of the city where I live a couple weeks before Easter and asked people the question: "What is the greatest hope of the Christian?" The overwhelming answer that was given was that when we die we go to heaven. What is really sad is that most of the people answering the question stated that they were a Christian.
On the surface, this may not seem to be a major problem. Some would say, "Heaven is a great hope that we are promised in the Bible. Isn’t it enough for a Christian to have this hope?"
I would answer both yes and no. I know, I know. People don’t like it when you answer that way. So let me go further: yes, a Christian can have their hope in the promise of heaven but no it is not the hope that God has asked us to remain in or proclaim. My fear is not so much for the new Christian who is still growing in their knowledge of the hope, but in the Pastors and leaders in countless churches who continue to neglect the hope of the resurrection while focusing solely on the hope of going to heaven when we die. I think this is something that Jesus might be angry about. By only focusing on the hope a Christian has in death, we tragically rob Jesus of his victory over death. What follows is that the Christian is robbed of the deepest hope of the Christian life and the world is robbed of an accurate declaration of the Christian hope. How often do we speak and act as if "Christ has not been raised"?
Returning to the scenarios given at the beginning, consider that both situations involved being either thoughtless or ignorant of consequences of the actions. Is it any surprise how Paul ends this passage on the resurrection. He says, "for there are some who are ignorant of God–I say this to your shame." If you are ignorant of needing to take out your dog, you will find a mess on the carpet when you return home and if you are thoughtless and don’t turn off the gas stove, you might just blow up your house. And, if you are ignorant of God and ignore the reality of the resurrection, than you are likely a person living without the Christian hope.
And this effects everything. We want to think and believe it doesn’t. But it really does. Without the hope of the resurrection, Jesus is not King and Judge, his world remains under the dominion of sin, death and Satan, and what we do in our bodies is inconsequential.
On the other hand, if you are living in the belief of Jesus’ resurrection and the promise of the future resurrection of all people, than what you do in your body goes on into eternity, the Kingdom of God is overthrowing the evil powers of this world and Jesus is a returning King and Judge who will reign on the earth forever and ever.
Is the hope you have undeveloped and simplistic or is your hope the Christian hope; a wondrous, cataclysmic and consequential hope?
Rejoice: Listen to and learn to sing, "Christ is Risen" by Matt Maher. Note that a section of this song comes right from the passage of scripture that comes after the passage that was our focus for today.
Resolve: Sadly, I don’t think most Christians realize the depth of their hope and it is because of this that we don’t know how to point the people in our lives to Jesus’ hope on a daily basis. What a contrast to the people in the New Testament who encountered the risen Jesus and were filled by the Holy Spirit. Those people were brimming with hope even in light of some of the darkest days of trial and persecution. I encourage you to spend some time going through the book of Acts and take note of all the times the gospel is declared and where the focus of the Christian hope is set. Two books (one of which I already made note of yesterday) that would help you shift your life to resurrection hope are: "Raised With Christ: How the Resurrection Changes Everything" by Adrian Warnock and "Surprised by Hope" by N.T. Wright.
Today, think of the Church that you are a part of. First, pray for your Church. I believe Satan often tries to get the Church away from its message and mission. Listen to the teaching in your Church and take note over the next few months how often the resurrection is preached and taught. (Is it only once a year at Easter?) If you notice an absence go respectfully to your Pastor and ask him if he can commit to preaching on the resurrection more. (maybe at least once a month or once a season).
