A Resurrected Savior

April 12, 2020 Background Scripture: Mark 16; 1 Corinthians 15 Lesson Passage: 1 Corinthians 15:1 – 8, 12 – 14, 20 – 23, 42 – 45 Resurrection. The word resurrection evokes various emotions that seem to quickly come and go until our minds settle down in a state of indecision. Is it truly possible for the dead to live again? If it is possible for the physically dead to live again, then why not just keep on living, and avoid the unpleasant thought (and perhaps experience) of physical death? I think it is true that the thought of physical death is one of the most unpleasant of all human thoughts. Oftentimes, we avoid thinking about it. At other times—between funerals for family and loved ones—we just hope to avoid physical death altogether. This is not some modern-day philosophical thinking. I recall King Hezekiah’s reaction after he was told by the prophet that his time to die had arrived. King Hezekiah turned to the wall and begged God for more time. The thought of death is tough! Afterall, we have limited experience with life and NO experience with death. After seeing so many people die and never return, it is difficult to not think of death as tragic. In fact, just writing about death brings on a somber mood. But there is one thing that quickly changes one’s emotions when thinking or talking about death. Resurrection is the cure for death. To know that death is not final is a refreshing thought after feeling down from contemplating death as a tragic end. It’s like hearing that there is a cure for some affliction one has. The main question is, “How do I get the cure?” As a teenager, I wanted to know: If there is a cure for acne, how can I obtain it? Unfortunately, as we age, the list of things we eagerly seek a cure for gets longer. But the ultimate question is: If there is a cure for death, then how do I obtain it? There is only one place to get it. You must get the cure from the person who has experienced eternal resurrection. Of course, “eternal” is the key word. We shouldn’t be seeking some temporary fix. The bible identifies numerous persons in the Old and the New Testaments that were raised from the dead. Yes, there have been many individuals raised from the dead, but they died again. (I would have loved to talk with one of them to glean whatever I could from what they felt, learned, or remembered. Afterall, they experienced death. Do they remember any of it?) But, all of those were temporary. Eternal resurrection, on the other hand, is to be raised from the dead to NEVER die again. The only one to talk to about eternal resurrection is the first one who experienced it, i.e., Jesus. Jesus declared, “I was dead, and behold, I am alive forevermore”. Jesus is the one to talk to about resurrection! Jesus is the central figure in our lesson and his resurrection is the topic. According to the Apostle Paul, after his resurrection, Jesus showed himself to many believers. In one of those instances, over five hundred believers saw him. He even invited the Apostle Thomas to place his finger in the hole in his hand where the spike had held him to the cross. No matter how much Thomas doubted, Jesus wanted to remove Thomas’ doubts about his resurrection. Jesus’ resurrection was and is good news and it was important for those eyewitnesses to be assured of its reality so they could publish it throughout the world. Christians have been saved from eternal damnation since the first century because we received and believed the good news about a resurrected Savior. Robert C. Hudson March 30, 2020