We believe Jesus is one with God through the mystery of the Holy Trinity. We believe Jesus is co-eternal co-creator with God. We believe Jesus is the Son of God. We believe Jesus is lord of heaven and earth, and that he became fully human.
That leaves one more vitally important affirmation about Jesus: he rose from the dead.
The apostle Paul describes this affirmation as being of “first importance” in the 15th chapter of 1 Corinthians: “For what I received I passed on to you as of first importance: 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…”
The Bible speaks of two different things that I think we sometimes confuse, or at least blur the distinction between them: resurrection and eternal life.
Eternal life speaks of the truth that we can live in right relationship with God now, and that relationship will continue even after our death.
But it’s important to keep in mind that nothing in scripture denies or diminishes the painful reality of death. Yes, Jesus defeated death, but not by making it go away. Instead, in his resurrection he showed that death doesn’t have the last word.
In Romans 5:17-18, Paul writes, “For if, by the trespass of the one man, death reigned through that one man, how much more will those who receive God’s abundant provision of grace and of the gift of righteousness reign in life through the one man, Jesus Christ!Consequently, just as one trespass resulted in condemnation for all people, so also one righteous act resulted in justification and life for all people.”
Sure, we still have questions.
Why didn’t God just erase the consequences of sin? For that matter, why did God allow sin into the world in the first place?
We’ve all had these questions, and I have yet to find really good answers to why God did things the way he did…but the result of what he did is clear. Jesus became obedient even to the point of death on a cross so that we can have the gift, and the assurance, that death is not the end.
Whenever we face death, whether of a loved one or our own, we know that it still brings pain. But we know that God understands that pain, as he has experienced it directly through the death of Jesus. And we also know that he’s promised that the pain of death will pale in the glory of resurrection.
– Rev. Mark Fleming
This is part of a sermon/reading series in July-August, 2024, looking at some core Christian beliefs, along with distinctive emphases of the Methodist branch of Christianity.
The daily readings are my own, but they are loosely based on the topics covered in the Catechism of the Global Methodist Church. The column at the right contains the questions from the catechism and the sources it lists.
You can find the full catechism and other information about the Global Methodist Church at globalmethodist.org.
I invite you to join us for worship and other church gatherings at China Methodist Church and Forest Park Methodist Church.
Respectful conversation is welcome. Use the comment section at the end of this post.
From the Catechism of the Global Methodist Church:
14. Did Jesus Christ rise bodily from the dead?
Yes! On the third day He rose again in accordance with the Scriptures.
Matthew 28:1-10 [Women discover the empty tomb on Easter morning] Read it here
Mark 16:1-8 When the Sabbath was over, Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James, and Salome bought spices so that they might go to anoint Jesus’ body.Very early on the first day of the week, just after sunrise, they were on their way to the tomband they asked each other, “Who will roll the stone away from the entrance of the tomb?”
But when they looked up, they saw that the stone, which was very large, had been rolled away. As they entered the tomb, they saw a young man dressed in a white robe sitting on the right side, and they were alarmed.
“Don’t be alarmed,” he said. “You are looking for Jesus the Nazarene, who was crucified. He has risen! He is not here. See the place where they laid him. But go, tell his disciples and Peter, ‘He is going ahead of you into Galilee. There you will see him, just as he told you.’”
Trembling and bewildered, the women went out and fled from the tomb. They said nothing to anyone, because they were afraid.
Luke 24:1-11 [Women discover the empty tomb on Easter morning] Read it here
Luke 24:36-43 While they were still talking about this, Jesus himself stood among them and said to them, “Peace be with you.”
They were startled and frightened, thinking they saw a ghost. He said to them, “Why are you troubled, and why do doubts rise in your minds? Look at my hands and my feet. It is I myself! Touch me and see; a ghost does not have flesh and bones, as you see I have.”
When he had said this, he showed them his hands and feet. And while they still did not believe it because of joy and amazement, he asked them, “Do you have anything here to eat?” They gave him a piece of broiled fish,and he took it and ate it in their presence.
John 20:1-17 [Women discover the empty tomb on Easter morning] Read it here
John 20:27 Then he said to Thomas, “Put your finger here; see my hands. Reach out your hand and put it into my side. Stop doubting and believe.”
Acts 2:22-36 [Peter preaches about the crucifixion and resurrection] Read it here
1 Corinthians 15:3-8 For what I received I passed on to you as of first importance: 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, and that he appeared to Cephas, and then to the Twelve. After that, he appeared to more than five hundred of the brothers and sisters at the same time, most of whom are still living, though some have fallen asleep.Then he appeared to James, then to all the apostles, and last of all he appeared to me also, as to one abnormally born.
1 Peter 1:3 Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead…
16. Is Jesus Christ our great high priest?
Yes. Because Jesus lives forever, he has a permanent priesthood. Therefore, he is able to save completely those who come to God through him, because he always lives to intercede for them.
Romans 8:34 Who then is the one who condemns? No one. Christ Jesus who died—more than that, who was raised to life—is at the right hand of God and is also interceding for us.
Hebrews 4:14-16 Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has ascended into heaven, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold firmly to the faith we profess.For we do not have a high priest who is unable to empathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are—yet he did not sin.Let us then approach God’s throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.
Hebrews 7:11-28 [Jesus is the great high priest in the order of Melchizedek] Read it here
1 John 2:1-2 My dear children, I write this to you so that you will not sin. But if anybody does sin, we have an advocate with the Father—Jesus Christ, the Righteous One. He is the atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not only for ours but also for the sins of the whole world.