1 Corinthians 15:1-7

“For I handed on to you as of first importance what I in turn had received: that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the scriptures, and that he was buried, and that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the scriptures..” vss. 3-4

While some believers have come to love Jesus because of his teaching and healing ministry they’re not as comfortable with his resurrection. It seems a gross violation of the laws of nature and they have a hard time making sense of it. It’s almost as though they prefer a dead Jesus to a living Christ. Well, Paul would have been appalled at that notion. In fact, he told the Corinthians that what he had handed on to them about Christ’s death and resurrection was of first importance in his gospel. This wasn’t something that he had made up–he was actually passing on what he had received from people he had persecuted. In fact if the good news of resurrection had not been the central part of that gospel that was planted and that flourished in ancient days, Jesus would have been forgotten long ago. We would do well to remember that as we consider what to teach and preach in our congregations. There is nothing more important to the life and ministry of the Church than the handing on of the good news of Christ’s death and resurrection. Here is where we find forgiveness and hope, and that’s the most important gift we have for the next generation.

Thought for the Day: How do I hand on what I have received?