![]() ![]() The mystery of resurrection is first of all the constant and universal pattern, which is then made dramatic, daring and trustful in the personal body of Jesus! Science is now helping us to think this way. He is the universal exemplar and promise representing all of creation. But I have really never heard a preacher emphasize the previous verse of 15:14a, where he has just said, " If there is no resurrection of the dead, Christ himself cannot have been raised"! Isn't that extraordinary?! The universal principle comes first, and only then is it illustrated and "guaranteed" in the risen Christ. Most preachers on the resurrection are naturally drawn to the dramatic line of Paul's "If Christ has not been raised, our preaching is in vain and your believing is useless" (1 Corinthians 15:14b), we say with a flourish. As we all know, we take the familiar for granted. It takes a long time to recognize and absorb that which is already and everywhere. It seems to me this is trying to name the ubiquity, universality, gratuity and timelessness of the Easter message. What was first just a daring truth in the body of Jesus is made universal truth by the descent and indwelling of the Holy Spirit upon all the races - unexpectedly and uninvited (Acts 2). ![]() It is surely no liturgical accident that the celebration of the Resurrection goes on for a full 50 days and then expands into Pentecost, which takes up the whole rest of the church year.
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