FAITH ON TRIAL – Part 1: Is faith reasonable? The Climax of the story of God

THE CLIMAX OF GOD’S STORY: THE RESURRECTION OF JESUS

Here’s why the Climax of the story of God, or more specifically, the resurrection is so important. Climax literally means the most intense part of a story, the decisive moment or maximum intensity. Everything else in the story of God from Creation to Consummation hinges on the resurrection of Jesus. This passage in 1 Corinthians 15 contains some powerful arguments for the veracity of the resurrection of Jesus.

1) THE MAKE OR BREAK FACTOR (I Cor 15:14-19). In summary, we’re wasting our time with following Christ if the resurrection didn’t happen. Everything that we do as followers of Christ rests on the reality of the resurrection.

2) THE EYEWITNESS FACTOR What is the resurrection story? Throughout the New Testament times, just after the life of Jesus, numerous early sermons were preached or taught in the early church by eyewitnesses of Jesus and his life. These early sermons were later written down in the New Testament books themselves. One of the is right here in 1 Cor 15.

1 Cor 15 [3] For what I received I passed on to you as of first importance: [4] 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, [5] and that he appeared to Peter, and then to the Twelve. [6] After that, he appeared to more than five hundred of the brothers at the same time, most of whom are still living, though some have fallen asleep. [7] Then he appeared to James, then to all the apostles, [8] and last of all he appeared to me also, as to one abnormally born.

Jesus didn’t make some cameo appearance to his disciples and other people after he rose from the dead. He didn’t just rise from the dead and connect with a couple of people and then go into heaven soon afterwards. No, he appeared at least twelve times to many, many people, large groups, small groups, indoor and outdoor, to skeptics and believers.

Jesus locked eyes with human beings to show again the validity of the resurrection. Paul said, we did not follow cleverly invented stories when we told you about the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but we were eyewitnesses of his majesty who saw Him at one time.

So, how do we know that these verses were an early, ancient sermon? In v. 3, Paul says that he “received” this tradition and he also mentions that it was “delivered” to him. This indicates that Paul received this early sermon. Most scholars actually believe that this is the earliest oral preaching on the life and mission of Christ. It dates back to just about the time of the death and resurrection of Christ. Most scholars date Paul receiving this oral statement that was widely circulated at about 2 – 8 years after the crucifixion of Jesus or about AD 32 – 38. These sermon summaries were very succinct and contain just the facts of what eyewitnesses saw and experienced.

Why is this important? A myth takes at least a few decades to come together. But, since this early sermon was so close to the time of the events, there was not time for the story to become a myth. We have firm material right here in I Cor 15 on the resurrection of Jesus. The disciples’ experiences with the risen Jesus were definitely visual in nature and not fabricated.

One other minor thing, this sermon summary about the resurrection was preached all over Jerusalem where it happened — right among the Jewish leaders who couldn’t stand Jesus and his early followers. It was laid out in the open for any kind of scrutiny and for anyone to challenge it.

The resurrection is an historical fact. It wasn’t done in secret. The whole city of Jerusalem knew about it and eventually the whole Roman Empire. It was news. If cable news had been there during the resurrection, they would have had it live. From this passage here in 1 Cor 15, there are at least twelve historical references to Jesus meeting people, touching people, talking with people. One time He cooked breakfast for some people. One time He talked to about 500 people after He had risen from the dead. A lot of people saw Him. Yet, we don’t have one testimony from ancient Jerusalem at that time or even later that said the resurrection was false.

You know what we have instead? We have ancient non-Christian historians from the 1st century who write about the facts of the life of Jesus and his death and resurrection! Ancient non-Christian Roman historians and even at least one prominent Jewish historian mention many details about the life, death and even the resurrection of Jesus as facts of history.

3) THE COMPLETE CHANGE FACTOR Think about the disciples. When Christ was crucified and buried, they left him in fear. The Bible says that they hide from people. But, eventually something changed them. They experienced a complete, radical life- change. They did a complete turnaround with their lives. They turned from fearful cowards into bold witnesses for Christ everywhere they went. How did the turnaround happen? They had real life experiences of the risen Jesus.

If you really check out the details of the story of the resurrection, I believe that the story of God and humanity in the Bible makes the most sense. The story will change your life if you put your trust in the risen Savior. And, if you’re already a follower of Christ, the data and the research will only strengthen your faith and build your confidence.

FAITH ON TRIAL – Part 1: Is faith reasonable? Is the story of the God of the Bible reasonable?

If you had to pick one Act that’s the most crucial part of the story – from Creation to Consummation, what would it be? The Climax of God’s Story – and more specific the resurrection within the Climax … gives veracity to the whole story itself.

Think about the Climax. Here’s the point: we all know something about the story of Jesus. But, why would someone today want to follow anyone who lived a life like Jesus did. He had no money, no home, he had a bunch of followers who were just ordinary, common people and his life was life cut short. He did have some incredible words of wisdom and some great sayings. And, he did do some supernatural things but there have been plenty of other people in history who have said some great things and done some great things. Like Jesus, they had lots of followers too. But, why would billions of people worship and celebrate Christ all over this planet? It really boils down to one thing:the resurrection truly happened. He’s still alive today with a body of flesh somewhere in heaven, a real place beyond this world and spatial dimension.