1 Corinthians 15:20 – Convention Theme

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Short Summary
The discourse emphasizes the central importance of Jesus Christ’s resurrection as the foundation of Christian faith and hope, affirming that Christ was the first to rise from the dead, guaranteeing a future resurrection for all believers. It explains that Jesus, sharing human nature with Adam, truly died and was raised by God, disproving the concept of an immortal soul and highlighting resurrection as God’s act of bringing new life. The resurrection also validates Jesus as God’s appointed Son, Messiah, Judge, and mediator of the new covenant, whose role is crucial for humanity’s reconciliation with God and the ultimate establishment of God’s kingdom on earth.

Long Summary
Detailed Summary of the Discourse on the Resurrection of Jesus Christ

Introduction:
– The gathering’s central reason is the resurrection of Jesus Christ.
– Jesus, a Jewish man 2,000 years ago, taught love and forgiveness amid opposition and was crucified by Roman authorities influenced by religious leaders.
– Crucially, Jesus’ resurrection on the third day is the foundation of Christian hope, promising a future resurrection for all who have died and the establishment of a worldwide kingdom of peace and righteousness under His rule.

Scriptural Foundation – 1 Corinthians 15:12-20 (Phillips Translation):
– The resurrection of Christ is the core message of Christianity.
– Denying resurrection undermines the faith, preaching, and forgiveness of sins.
– Without resurrection, believers who died have no hope, and faith is futile.
– Christ’s resurrection is the “first fruits” of those who will be raised.
– Various Bible translations emphasize Christ’s resurrection as a guarantee of the resurrection of the dead (e.g., Today’s English Version, Message, Living Bible, New Century Version, New American Standard, Contemporary English Version).
– Paul stresses that resurrection is a promise for all, with Christ as the first to rise and believers at His return.

Importance of the Resurrection:
– It validates Old Testament prophecies.
– Without Christ’s resurrection, faith is meaningless and sins remain unforgiven.
– Jesus’ resurrection demonstrates God’s power and willingness to resurrect mortal humans.
– Jesus had a fully human nature (like Adam), without sin, as described in Philippians 2:5-11:
> *“He always had the nature of God… he gave up all that he had and took the nature of a servant… he became obedient to death, even death on a cross… God raised him to the highest place…”* (Philippians 2:5-11, TEV)
– This human nature is essential; if Jesus were not fully human, resurrection would not prove the possibility for others.

Biblical View on Death and the Soul:
– The Bible teaches humans are mortal and truly die, contradicting common beliefs about an immortal soul.
– Quote from theologian David Buttrick highlights that death is “the last enemy” and resurrection is a miraculous act of God.
– Resurrection is not the survival of an immortal soul, but a future bodily raising by God’s power.
– Apostle Paul affirms in 1 Timothy 6:16 that only God has immortality.
– N.T. Wright, a contemporary theologian, agrees that the immortal soul doctrine lacks biblical support and criticizes conventional Christian funeral messages that imply the dead are already in heaven.
– Resurrection is bodily, future, and tied to God’s kingdom, as per Jewish belief and Jesus’ teachings.

Jesus and the Jewish Understanding of Resurrection:
– Resurrection was a Jewish hope, occurring “at the last day,” tied to God’s kingdom.
– John 11:21-24: Martha expected resurrection at the last day, showing the traditional Jewish view.
– Jesus’ resurrection was the first and a new, surprising event.
– Early Christians placed resurrection at the center of theology, focusing on bodily resurrection, rejecting Greek ideas of soul-body dualism.

Paul’s Teachings on Resurrection:
– Paul consistently emphasized Christ as the first to rise, with believers to follow at His return (1 Corinthians 15:23).
– Paul’s defense before Felix (Acts 24:14-16) affirms belief in resurrection of both righteous and wicked.
– In Acts 26:20-23, Paul teaches Christ’s resurrection was prophesied.
– Romans 8:28-30 describes believers being conformed to Jesus, “the firstborn among many brothers.”
– Colossians 1:15-20 describes Jesus as “the firstborn from among the dead” with supremacy over all creation.

Jesus’ Resurrection Validates His Role:
– Hebrews 1:1-5 cites Psalm 2:7 (“You are my Son, today I have begotten you”) as fulfilled at Jesus’ resurrection.
– Acts 13:26-33: Paul explains resurrection as proof Jesus is the Messiah.
– Hebrews 5:5-6 reiterates Jesus as high priest according to Melchizedek’s order.
– Resurrection affirms Jesus as God’s Son, Messiah, high priest, king, and judge.

Jesus’ Future Role as Life-Giver and Judge:
– Acts 17:30-31: God will judge the world through Jesus, proven by resurrection.
– John 5:25-29: Jesus has authority to raise the dead to life or judgment.
– Isaiah 9:6-7 (KJV) prophesies Jesus’ rule as “Everlasting Father” and “Prince of Peace,” emphasizing His eternal life-giving role.
– Various translations interpret “Everlasting Father” as “Father of eternity” or “Father of the ages to come,” highlighting Christ’s role as life-giver.

Jesus as Mediator of the New Covenant:
– Hebrews 8:6-7: Jesus mediates a better covenant with better promises.
– Hebrews 9:14-15: His sacrificial death cleanses consciences and reconciles humanity with God.
– Hebrews 12:22-24: Jesus is mediator of the new covenant, guaranteeing the fulfillment of promises.
– Commentary suggests Jesus’ mediator role ensures the covenant promises are accomplished, not merely instituted.

Conclusion and Praise:
– Gratitude for Jesus’ humility, obedience, sacrificial death, and resurrection.
– Resurrection is essential for ransom payment and reconciliation.
– Final Scripture reading from Revelation 1:17-18:
> *“I was dead, and behold, I am alive forever and ever, and I hold the keys of death and Hades.”*
– This emphasizes Jesus’ eternal life and authority over death.

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Key Bible Verses Mentioned:

– 1 Corinthians 15:12-20
– Philippians 2:5-11
– John 11:21-24
– Acts 24:14-16
– Acts 26:20-23
– Romans 8:28-30
– Colossians 1:15-20
– Hebrews 1:1-5
– Acts 13:26-33
– Hebrews 5:5-6
– Acts 17:30-31
– John 5:25-29
– Isaiah 9:6-7
– Hebrews 8:6-7
– Hebrews 9:14-15
– Hebrews 12:22-24
– Revelation 1:17-18
– Psalm 2:7 (quoted in Hebrews and Acts)
– Job 19:25-27
– Daniel 12:2

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Summary:
This discourse extensively explores the biblical teaching of Jesus Christ’s resurrection, its foundational importance to Christian faith, the nature of human mortality, and the bodily resurrection promise for all humanity. It emphasizes Jesus’ fully human nature, the rejection of the immortal soul doctrine, and Jesus’ roles as Messiah, high priest, judge, life-giver, and mediator of the new covenant. The resurrection is presented as God’s powerful act assuring believers of future life and the ultimate establishment of His righteous kingdom on Earth.

Transcript

Brethren, we. There is one reason we are all gathered here today.

Two thousand years ago, there was an extraordinary Jewish man who taught love and forgiveness in the face of strong opposition from the religious leaders at the time, and then he demonstrated that love and forgiveness by remaining silent and compliant. As those religious leaders persuaded, the Roman authorities put Jesus to death by crucifixion. But it is not his death that brings us together. What brings us here is the additional fact that on the third day after his death, the God of the universe raised His Son to life again and promised that a time is coming when all who are in their graves will likewise arise from death into a worldwide kingdom of peace and righteousness ruled by His Son.

We know these things because of the inspired written testimony of those who witnessed these events and heard the words that he had spoken, and so we’d like to read the context around our theme scripture, which is First Corinthians 15:20 starting in verse 19. Or I mean, verse 12 and reading through verse 23.

Actually, I see I don’t have 21 to 23 on my paper. Okay, we’re going to read through verse 20.

And I’m reading from the Phillips translation because I like the way it renders verse 20 starting in verse 12. Now, if the rising of Christ from the dead is the very heart of our message, how can some of you deny that there is any resurrection? For if there is no such thing as the resurrection of the dead, then Christ was never raised, and if Christ was not raised, then neither our preaching nor your faith has any meaning at all. Further, it would mean that we are lying in our witness for God.

For we have given our solemn testimony that he did raise up Christ, and that is utterly false if it should be true that the dead do not rise. In fact, for if the dead do not rise, neither did Christ rise, and if Christ did not rise, your faith is futile and your sins have never been forgiven. Moreover, those who have died believing in Christ are utterly dead and gone.

Truly, if our hope in Christ were limited to this life only, we should, of all mankind, be the most to be pitied. But the glorious fact is that Christ did rise from the dead. He has become the very first to rise of all who sleep the sleep of death.

And I want to read this verse from some other translations. As I look through all of the different translations, I found several that had features that I just really like the emphasis that they put into that 20th verse. So here, here is what it. How it reads from today’s English version. But the truth is that Christ has been raised from death as the guarantee that those who sleep in death will also be raised.

I sometimes like to read from the message paraphrase kind of gets a little vernacular and I like the way they put says but the truth is that Christ has been raised up the first of a long legacy of those who are going to leave the cemeteries.

I like that the living Bible says, but the fact that Christ did actually rise from the dead and has become the first of millions who will come back to life again someday. The new century version says but Christ has truly been raised from the dead. The first one and proof that those who sleep in death will also be raised, and then these last two. I’m going to read verses 20 through 23.

This is from the New American Standard updated. But now Christ has been raised from the dead the first fruits of those who are asleep. For since by man came death, by man also came the resurrection of the dead. For as in Adam all die, so also in Christ all will be made alive, but each in his own order. Christ the first fruits.

After that, those who are Christ’s at his coming.

And the final version called the contemporary English version. Again, verses 20 through 23. But Christ has been raised to life, and he makes us certain that others will also be raised to life. Just as we will all die because of Adam, we will all be raised to life because of Christ. Adam brought death to all of us and Christ will bring life to all of us.

But we must each wait our turn. Christ was the first to be raised to life, and his people will be raised to life when he returns.

This. This is a wonderful piece of Scripture because it is the foundation of all of our hopes for us and the world of mankind. Why is the resurrection important? Because if Jesus had not been raised to life, first of all, they would make Old Testament prophecies concerning this untrue. But beyond that important consideration, why is it important that we have confidence in his resurrection as an established fact?

Well, first, for the same reason as Paul was explaining in verse 17, if Christ did not rise, your faith is futile and your sins have never been forgiven. A resurrection from death to life is a central element of our faith and our hope, not just for ourselves, but for everyone who has ever lived. If God had not raised up Jesus, who was an earthly, mortal human being like ourselves, how could we have any credible hope that he might also resurrect and raise to life others from the grave? So it is important for us and anyone in the human family who has faith in Jesus to understand that Jesus had the same human nature as Adam, and he died just like Adam died. Jesus humbled himself, came down from the spirit realm and became a mortal man, just like Adam, just like us.

But he was without sin, and we read about this in Philippians 2, verses 5 through 11, Philippians 2, verses 5 through eleven.

And I’m reading this from today’s English version. The attitude you should have is the one that Christ Jesus had. He always had the nature of God, but he did not think that by force he should try to become equal with God. Instead of this, of his own free will, he gave up all that he had and took the nature of a servant. He became like man and appeared in human likeness.

He was humble and walked the path of obedience all the way to death. His death on the cross. For this reason, God raised him to the highest place above and gave him the name that is greater than any other name, and so, in honor of the name of Jesus, all beings in heaven, on earth, and in the world below will fall on their knees, and all will openly proclaim that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

And how we long for that time to arrive.

If Jesus had not had the same nature as Adam and ourselves, if he had been of a different nature, we probably all have heard other Christian groups say that he was fully human and fully divine. I don’t know how you can be 200% of anything, But if he had had a different nature than God, raising him back to life would have given us no demonstration of his ability and willingness to raise mortal human beings back to life. But because Jesus did have a human, mortal nature, we have that demonstration and a basis for solid hope, and it is important in our understanding of Jesus resurrection and the resurrection. We hope to experience that humans do not have an immortal soul within them that goes on living in some spirit realm after the body dies.

We all know that the vast majority of people, including most Christians, believe this, but the Bible does not teach this. In a wonderful article entitled Immortality or Resurrection, Presbyterian theologian David Buttrick wrote this, and I’m going to quote this. It’s very good.

When the Bible tells us we are mortal, it is saying that we die. We really die.

No wonder the New Testament labels death the last enemy. Last is right. Isn’t the Bible splendidly honest? Being honest about death makes resurrection an astonishing miracle. If Jesus had an immortal soul that fluttered off to heaven when he died, then all we can do is dismiss the Easter stories as fancy fairy tales.

No, the Bible underscores the fact that Jesus did die and was buried. That his death was complete death and not make believe. But then, according to the New Testament writers, God raised Jesus from the dead. Take note, he was not a disembodied spook or a gas ghostly apparition, nor was he a resuscitated corpse. He was raised as a body, transformed and glorified as a spiritual body.

According to Paul, out of absolute death God raised up Jesus Christ the Lord. The important thing to remember is that God did it. Resurrection is an act of God. We die, really die. But out of our death God makes a new creation.

Of course, if we had an immortal spirit, immortal soul, we wouldn’t need God. Our immortality would do the trick. But the Bible contradicts such vain hope. We are mortal and so we must cling to God’s love alone. Christians do not believe in continuation, but in resurrection.

They trust in the power of God. Now of course we all know this. Our dear Pastor Russell taught this to brought this to our attention long ago, that the words immortal soul cannot be found in the Bible, and during his ministry the Apostle Paul told us in first Timothy 6:16. We’re not going to read that.

But that’s where the Apostle Paul told us that Jesus Christ, the King of Kings and Lord of Lords, whose resurrection we are considering today, is the only one to whom God had given immortality at that time.

Now another contemporary theologian by the name of Nicholas Thomas Wright states his agreement with this important foundation for properly understanding resurrection. This is a short quote from his book. It says scripture in fact teaches things about the future that most Christians and almost all non Christians have never heard of. The idea that every human possesses an immortal soul, which is the real part of the person, finds little support in the Bible, and in his 2008 book entitled Surprised by Hope, Rethinking Heaven, the Resurrection and the Mission of the church, N.T.

wright, he goes by his initials. Like our brother Obi, N.T. wright expresses interpretations of Bible passages that are much in agreement with Bible students understanding of what we call God’s divine plan of the ages. However, I do not agree with everything that Wright presents in this book and I’m not recommending that you go and get this book and read it. But I think that some of the things he presents regarding our human nature and the resurrection are worth sharing with you.

Wright is very critical of the messages given at most Christian funeral services because they typically say nothing about the recently deceased resting peacefully until the time of the resurrection, but rather speak of them being spiritually alive somewhere in heaven. God’s Kingdom oftentimes mentioning that they are doing the same things they enjoyed while here on Earth, but now with greater happiness. I remember being at my aunt’s funeral a number of years ago. She was a big Detroit Tigers fan, and as the minister spoke, he’s talking about how she would be watching the games and cheering the Tigers on. Oh my.

Yeah, it didn’t work.

Yeah. Anyway, and so here’s. Here’s Another quote from N.T. wright. He says, if someone came to these funeral services with no idea of the classic Jewish and Christian teaching on the subject, the funeral services would do little to enlighten them and plenty to mislead them.

We cannot simply regard this as a problem at which we simply shrug our shoulders and say, well, there are different views on these topics. What we say about death and resurrection gives shape and color to everything else. If we are not careful, we will offer merely a hope that is no longer a surprise, no longer able to transform lives and communities in the present, no longer generated by the resurrection of Jesus himself and looking forward to the promised new heavens and new earth.

Thy kingdom come, thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven, remains one of the most powerful and revolutionary sentences we can ever say. As I see it, the prayer was powerfully answered at the first Easter and will finally be answered fully when heaven and earth are joined in the New Jerusalem.

Explaining the beliefs of ancient Judaism. This is another quote from right he says resurrection referred specifically to something that happened to the body, hence the later debates about how God would do this. Resurrection meant bodies. We cannot emphasize that too strongly.

The Jewish belief in the resurrection also included the fact the resurrection was something that would happen at the last day, when God, through his Messiah, would remake the world in righteousness. This belief and understanding is clearly brought out in the conversation between Jesus and Martha, the sister of Lazarus, and you probably recall this conversation. It’s found in John 11. We’re going to read verses 21 through 24.

Lord, Martha said to Jesus, if you had been here, my brother would not have died. But I know that even now God will give you whatever you ask. Jesus said to her, your brother will rise again. Martha answered, I know he will rise again in the resurrection at the last day.

That was the Jewish believer, and Jesus didn’t try to change that, except that he begins to tell his disciples that he is going to be killed and then raised back to life three days later. But the gospel seems to record and indicate that the disciples didn’t really grasp what Jesus was saying about rising again in three days. They understood that the resurrection happens at the last day. There was no thought that someone, anyone, would receive a resurrection before the general resurrection.

If Jesus died, that was their the end of their hopes and dreams for the redemption of Israel and the establishment of God’s kingdom on earth as it is in heaven. The disciples didn’t say among themselves, oh, that’s all right, he’ll be back again in a few days. No, Their perspective is reflected in the statement of the two disciples on the road to Emmaus. We had hope that he was the one who was going to Redeem Israel. Luke 21:4 21.

So the resurrection of Jesus had an enormous impact on the thinking of those who had become his disciples, who called themselves followers of the Way. In his book, N.T. wright points out that the resurrection of Jesus had several profound impacts on the development of early Christian theology as it began to diverge from Jewish theology. I’m going to just touch on a couple of those. First, in early Christianity, resurrection moved from the circumference of religious thinking to its center.

The resurrection at the last day, believed by many in Judaism, was not a dominant subject within Jewish theology. The Hebrew word that is the equivalent of the Greek word for resurrection in the New Testament, anastasis, is only found once in the Old Testament, and it is not used in reference to someone who is dead coming back to life.

Nevertheless, we know there are allusions to resurrection in the Old Testament, such as when Job stated in Job 1925-27, he writes, I know that my Redeemer lives, and that in the end he will stand on the earth, and after my skin has been destroyed, yet in my flesh I will see God. I myself will see him with my own eyes and not another. How my heart yearns within me, and probably the most direct statement in the Old Testament about death, the dead coming back to life, is in Daniel the 12th chapter, verse 2 Daniel 12:2.

And this is the read it way it reads in the niv. Multitudes who sleep in the dust of the earth will awake, some to everlasting life, others to shame and everlasting contempt.

However, after Jesus resurrection, life after death becomes the dominant theme of New Testament authors and early Christian writers.

A second change that occurred in the development of the early Christian theology was early Christian thinking about the resurrection was focused on the bodily resurrection from death. Before Jesus resurrection, there was a spectrum of Jewish thinking about the subject of resurrection. Remember the difference between the Sadducees and the Pharisees? Sadducees didn’t believe in it at all, but After Jesus resurrection, the understanding of it within the early Christian community became focused on the physical bodily resurrection. Casting aside Greek philosophies such as those of Plato, which taught the separation of eternal soul, the real essence of a person from the body at death.

And as we know this philosophy has crept its way back into mainline so called orthodox Christianity.

So the understanding that Jesus died, actually died, like Adam, like us, is essential to the hope of resurrection. Only if Jesus died the same death and rose again do we have hope, proof that restoration of life from non existence is possible and a part of God’s plan for the human family.

The apostle Paul affirmed his belief in a resurrection for all in his defense before Felix, the Roman governor of Judea. In referencing his accusers, Paul said, and this is found in Acts 24, verses 14 through 16, Acts 24, 14, 16. I admit that I worship the God of our fathers as a follower of, of the way which they call a sect. I believe everything that agrees with the law and that is written in the prophets, and I have the same hope in God as these men that there will be a resurrection of both the righteous and the wicked.

So I strive always to keep my conscience clear before God and man.

Because of the Jewish heritage of the early church and the belief that the resurrection would not come until the last days, Jesus singular resurrection was an unexpected and perhaps somewhat confusing exception to this belief.

And probably that is why the Apostle Paul, in the theme passage that we read, made a point of saying in verse 23, First Corinthians 15:23, but we must each wait our turn. Christ was the first to be raised to life, and his people will be raised to life when he returns.

And Paul continues to emphasize that Jesus was a forerunner of the expected later general resurrection, and we’re going to read three passages from, from him. The first was, the first is in Acts 26, verses 20 and 22 and 23. This is part of Paul’s defense before King Agrippa. You know, this is all part of his on the way to Rome experience.

And, and King Agrippa said, and, and I guess it was Felix said, you know, we could have freed this guy if he had not appeared to appeal to Caesar. Anyway, this is what he said before, part of what he said to, before King Agrippa. But I have, but I have had God’s help to this very day, and so I stand here and testify to small and great alike. I am saying nothing beyond what the prophets and Moses said would happen, that the Christ would suffer and die as the first to See, it’d be to rise from the dead.

And so here again, emphasizing Christ was first, and it was. It was really kind of a surprise, but it was taking hold now in their understanding. In Romans 8:28 30. Romans 8:28 30, it says, and we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.

Was it Brother Jerry last night who called that formula 828? I don’t like that formula. 828, verse 29. For those God foreknew, He also predestined to be conformed for the likeness of His Son, that He might be the firstborn among many brothers, and those he predestined, he also called.

Those he called, he also justified. Those he justified, he also glorified, and the Third Scripture, Colossians 1, verses 15 through 20. In this passage, that reference to being the firstborn occurs twice.

He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. For by him all things were created. Things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities. All things were created by Him, and for him he is before all things.

In him all things hold together, and he is the head of the body, the church. He is the beginning and firstborn from among the dead. So that in everything he might have the supremacy or preeminence. For God was pleased to have all the full his fullness dwell in him and through him to reconcile to Himself all things, whether things on earth or things in heaven, by making peace through his blood shed on the cross.

It seems, too, that Paul believed it was important to make this point. As he wrote to the Hebrew Christians who were being encouraged to abandon their newfound faith. He wanted to show this resurrection of Jesus was foretold by the prophets and that it affirmed that Jesus was the Son of God, and we’re going to read the first five verses of the book of Hebrews.

God, who at various times and in various ways spoke in time past to the fathers by the prophets, has in these last days spoken to us by His Son, whom He has appointed heir of all things, through whom also he made the worlds. Who being in the who being the brightness of his glory and the express image of his person, and upholding all things by the word of his power, when he had by himself purged our sins, sat down at the right hand of the majesty on high, having become so much better than the angels, as he has by inheritance obtained a more excellent name than they. Or to which of the angels did he ever say, you are my Son, today I have begotten you, and again I will be to him a father, and he shall be to me a son.

Now the statement, you are my Son, today I have begotten you is quoted from the second Psalm, wherein Jehovah states that he has installed his anointed as king of Zion, his holy mountain or kingdom. The anointed king then says in verse 7 of Psalm 2, I will declare the decree, the Lord has said to me, you are my Son, today I have begotten you.

Upon reading that statement in Hebrews or the Psalm, we might quickly assume that this was referring to Jehovah’s creation of his Son in long ages past, or perhaps when he was begotten by the Holy Spirit in the womb of Mary.

But in preaching to the Jews and Gentiles in the synagogue in Pisidian Antioch during his first missionary journey, Paul says that the second psalm prophecy referred to the day of Jesus resurrection. So we’re going to read Acts 13, verses 26 to 33. Acts 13, verses 26 to 33 Men and brethren, sons of the family of Abraham and those among you who fear God. To you the word of this salvation has been sent for those who dwell in Jerusalem and their rulers, because they did not know him, nor even the voices of the prophets which are read every Sabbath, have fulfilled them in condemning him, and though they found no cause for death in him, they asked Pilate that he should put him to death.

Now, when he had fulfilled all that was written concerning him, they took him down from the tree and laid him in a tomb. But God raised him from the dead. He was seen for many days by those who came up with him from Galilee to Jerusalem, who are his witnesses to the people, and we declare to you glad tidings that promise which has been made to the fathers. God has fulfilled this, filled this for us, their children, in that he has raised up Jesus.

As it is also written in the second Psalm, you are my son, today I have begotten you. So Paul gives us the interpretation of that prophetic statement. It’s referring to the day of Jesus resurrection.

Paul says that God raising Jesus from the dead validates him as the fulfillment of all that has been prophesied about his anointed Son, Israel’s Messiah. In Hebrews 5, Paul again cites Psalm 2 prophecy as proof that God has appointed Jesus to be the high priest of a higher priestly order, and this is found in Hebrews 5, verses 5 and 6. Hebrews 5, 5 and 6 so also Christ did not glorify himself so as to become a high priest, but he who said to him, you are my son, today I have begotten you, just as he says also in another passage, you are a priest forever, according to the order of Melchizedek.

So as we start to summarize, the resurrection of Jesus is important to us. First, because it demonstrates God is willing and able to restore mortal human beings who have died, and thus we can have hope for a future resurrection. Also second, it put God’s stamp, so to speak, on Jesus, designating him as his Son, his anointed king, his Messiah, and his high priest for the future. Third, it also put God’s stamp on him, designating him as the great Judge in the kingdom, as expressed by Paul in Acts 17, verses 30 and 31 Acts 17, verses 30 and 31 Therefore, having overlooked the times of ignorance, God is now declaring to men that all people everywhere should repent because he has fixed a day in which he will judge the world in righteousness through a man whom he has appointed, having furnished proof to all men by raising him from the dead.

A fourth reason Jesus resurrection is important because he will be the one who will be the life giver in the last days, the one who will be exercising God’s power of resurrection in John 5, verses 25 to 29 John 5, 20, 29 this is what we Jesus said, Truly, truly, I say to you, an hour is coming, and now is when the dead will hear the voice of the Son of God, and those who hear will live. For just as the Father has life in himself, even so he has given gave to the Son also to have life in himself, and he gave him authority to execute judgment because he is the Son of man. Do not marvel at this, for an hour is coming in which all who are in the tombs will hear his voice, and will come forth those who did the good deeds to a righteous resurrection of life, and those who committed evil deeds to a resurrection of judgment.

And this is also stated in the familiar prophecy of Jesus human birth in Isaiah. This is what the King James translation says, Isaiah 9:6 and 7 Isaiah 9:6 7 For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given and the government will be upon his shoulder, and his name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, the mighty God, the everlasting Father, the Prince of peace of the increase of his government and peace there shall be no end upon the throne of David and upon his kingdom to order it and to establish it with judgment and with justice from Henceforth, even forever, the zeal of the Lord of hosts will perform this. This title or name, the Everlasting Father, refers to Christ’s role as life giver in the future, and a few other translations attempt to render this title in line with this intended meaning. Young’s literal translation renders this Father of eternity. Rotherham’s translation translates this the Father of Futurity.

The New English Bible and the Moffat translation translate this the Father for all time, and in the Septuagint the English translation is the Father of the ages to come.

So the resurrection of Jesus designated him in this role.

And we will mention one final reason why the resurrection of Jesus is important. He is the mediator of the new covenant, which is the foundation for the work of cleansing sin from the hearts of mankind and reconciling them with their creator, God, and this is stated several times in Hebrews in Hebrews 8, 6 and 7, Hebrews 8, 6 and 7 it says, but now he has obtained a more excellent ministry by as much as he is also the mediator of a better covenant, which was enacted on better promises.

For if the first covenant had been faultless, there would have been no occasion sought for a Second in Hebrews 9, 14 and 15, Hebrews 9, 14 and 15. How much more then, will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit, offered himself unblemished to God, cleanse our consciences from acts that lead to death, so that we may serve the living God? For this reason Christ is mediator of a new covenant that those who are called who are called, may receive the promised inheritance now that he has died as a ransom to set them free from the sins committed under the first covenant, and finally, in Hebrews 12, we have the description of the scene.

That begins by saying in verse 22, verse 22, 24. But you have come to Mount Zion, to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem. You have come to thousands upon thousands of angels in joyful assembly, to the church of the firstborn, whose names are written in heaven. You have come to God the judge of all, to the spirits of the righteous made perfect, to Jesus, the mediator of a new covenant, and to the sprinkled blood that speaks a better word than the blood of Abel.

Now, sometimes we speak of Jesus as having mediated or negotiated the terms of the new covenant. But I’d like to share a comment from one commentary source that gives us a picture of a larger role for the mediator. It says the role of mediator here in this Hebrews passage appears to be not that of instituting the covenant merely, but of guaranteeing that the covenant promises are fulfilled, that the promised deliverance is actually accomplished. So that is Jesus role, and aren’t we glad that Jesus is that mediator?

And what’s more, if we prove faithful, we hope to assist him in that work of bringing the complete promised deliverance. Make sure that it is actually accomplished.

Brethren, we are so very thankful that our Lord Jesus was willing to humble Himself and come down from the heavens and live among humanity to understand our struggles with sin, even though he was without sin, and then be willing to die an excruciating death upon the cross to cancel the penalty upon Adam and his posterity. We are so very thankful that he did all of this faithfully and that God raised him from the dead. Paying the ransom only required his death, but the reconciliation work requires he be alive for all of the reasons we have mentioned. His resurrection was and is so very important. May he and His Father be praised forever.

And we’ll close with one final Scripture. Revelation 1:17 and 18 Revelation 1:17 and 18 When I saw him, I fell at his feet as though dead. Then he placed his right hand on me and said, do not be afraid. I am the first and the last. I am the living one.

I was dead and behold, I am alive forever and ever and I hold the keys of death and Hades. Amen.

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