One of the central truths of the Christian
faith is that Jesus rose from the dead. If this is a myth, or a lie, or a
fable, or anything other than the absolute truth, then the Christian faith
falls. It is emptied of it power to bring forgiveness and reconciliation
between God and humankind.
There were other ancient accounts of a god
coming back to life after dying. This Wikipedia article outlines some of the controversy. (Don’t take everything they say as
fact!) For us as Jesus-followers, the resurrection is essential.
Paul in our passage today is defending the
message he preached from attack by some folks who were trying to distort the
Truth to fit their own selfish ambitions. They were saying (v12) that there was
no resurrection at all, of anybody, anytime. And if the whole category of
resurrection is taken off the table, then Jesus didn’t rise either (vv13 &
16). And if Jesus didn’t rise, we are full of hot air (v14). Everything Paul
preached crumbles if Jesus didn’t rise. And why believe something that crumbles
(v14).
But something even more is at stake. If Jesus
didn’t rise, then the first century believers, including Paul, are liars (v15).
We hate any leader who lies to us. They are certainly not worthy of a
following. And yet if Jesus didn’t rise, then Paul in encouraging us to do what
he says, even though he is a liar.
It is one thing to be a liar about
unimportant things, like whether or not you took a cookie. It is another thing
entirely when you lie about eternal matters. Don’t mess with my destiny!
Paul says if Jesus didn’t rise, then we are
still in our sins (v17). This is true because the cure for our sins is Jesus death
and subsequent resurrection. Without the resurrection, Jesus death is just the
death of a strange, deluded man.
Some might say that Jesus is worth following
because of His teaching and lifestyle, and that His resurrection adds nothing
to the equation. Paul says that leaving out the resurrection and the
forgiveness of sins that His death and resurrection purchased makes us pitiable
people (v19). His life and teaching doesn’t change our eternal destiny. It
makes us fools unless He rose as He said He would, and as the first witnesses
recorded.