Jesus' Passion, Death, Resurrection Reflections 2025
1 Corinthians 15:1-8
"Now I would remind you, brothers, of the gospel I preached to you, which you received, in which you stand, and by which you are being saved, if you hold fast to the word I preached to you—unless you believed in vain. For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received: that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures, that He was buried, that He was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures, and that He appeared to Cephas, then to the twelve. Then He appeared to more than five hundred brothers at one time, most of whom are still alive, though some have fallen asleep. Then He appeared to James, then to all the apostles. Last of all, as to one untimely born, he appeared also to me."
Reminder of Gospel
Paul (inspired by God) wrote to the church at Corinth that he reminded them of the gospel he preached to them. They received the gospel, in which they stood. By this gospel they were being saved if they held fast to the word he preached to them-unless they believed in vain. They were attaining salvation by holding fast (adhering firmly) to the word unless they believed without careful thought or consideration.
Christ Death, Burial, Resurrection, Appearances
Paul went on to state what he delivered to them as first importance what he also received. He said that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures. Our sins are a departure from the divine standards of uprightness which are from God. He was buried, and then, on the third day, He rose again according to the Scriptures. Paul said that after Jesus rose from the dead, He appeared to Peter, then to the 12. He also appeared to over 500 people at once. He appeared to James and to Paul himself.
What is God's Standard?
When Jesus talked about loving our enemies, He stated, "You therefore must be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect" (Matthew 5:48). In other words, Jesus said we must be fully developed in a moral sense. God is perfect. David wrote, "The law of the Lord is perfect, reviving the soul; the testimony of the Lord is sure, making wise the simple; the precepts of the Lord are right, rejoicing the heart; the commandment of the Lord is pure, enlightening the eyes; the fear of the Lord is clean, enduring forever; the rules of the Lord are true, and righteous altogether" (Psalm 19:7-9).
Can We Meet that Standard?
We cannot meet that standard. Paul wrote, "He will render to each one according to his works: to those who by patience in well-doing seek for glory and honor and immortality, He will give eternal life; but for those who are self-seeking and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness, there will be wrath and fury" (Romans 2:6-8).
God will render each one according to His works. Render means to recompense. It involves giving something to by way of compensation and paying for something. Those who by patience in well-doing seek glory, honor, & immortality He'll give eternal life. Those who are self-seeking and don't obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness, there will be wrath and fury.
Paul later wrote, "Then what advantage has the Jew? Or what is the value of circumcision? Much in every way. To begin with, the Jews were entrusted with the oracles of God. What if some were unfaithful? Does their faithlessness nullify the faithfulness of God? By no means! Let God be true though everyone were a liar, as it is written, 'That you may be justified in your words, and prevail when you are judged'" (Romans 3:1-4 quoting Psalm 51:4).
He then wrote, "What then? Are we Jews any better off? No, not at all. For we have already charged that all, both Jews and Greeks, are under sin, as it is written: 'None is righteous, no, not one; no one understands; no one seeks for God. All have turned aside; together they have become worthless; no one does good, not even one'" (Romans 3:9-12 quoting Psalm 14:1-3).
Since Jews and Gentiles neither have been able to rid themselves to slavery of sin, there is no power in man to help them to do good. If men were able in the slightest degree to move God's direction there would be no need to save them.
Christ Died for Our Sins
However, Jesus said, "You know that those who are considered rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their great ones exercise authority over them. But it shall not be so among you. But whoever would be great among you must be your servant, and whoever would be first among you must be slave of all. For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give His life as a ransom for many" (Mark 10:42-45).
Jesus, when speaking to the disciples in this instance, talked about the rulers of the Gentiles lording it over them, and their great ones exercising authority over them. However, Jesus told them to be servants and slaves (in a positive way referring to humble service).
He then says that the Son of Man came to serve and give His life as a ransom for many. A ransom is a price of release. In other words, Jesus paid the price that we could never pay. He paid the penalty for our sins on the cross.
Isaiah, hundreds of years earlier, wrote, "Surely he has borne our griefs and carried our sorrows; yet we esteemed him stricken, smitten by God, and afflicted. But he was pierced for our transgressions; he was crushed for our iniquities; upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace, and with his wounds we are healed" (Isaiah 53:4-5).
This is referring to Christ. He has borne our griefs and carried our sorrows; yet we esteemed Him stricken, smitten by God, and afflicted, where He was afflicted by God. He was pierced (treated with abuse, irreverence, contempt) and was wounded for our transgressions (wrongdoings) and crushed for our iniquities (sins). Upon Christ was the chastisement (discipline) that brought us peace, and with His wounds we are healed.
Isaiah then wrote, "All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned—every one—to his own way; and the Lord has laid on him the iniquity of us all" (Isaiah 53:6).
He stated that like sheep, people have gone astray and turned to their own way. The Lord has laid on Him the iniquity of us all. The iniquities were hurting the suffering servant (Christ), where the Lord let the iniquities hurt Christ.
Peter wrote, "He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, that we might die to sin and live to righteousness. By his wounds you have been healed. For you were straying like sheep, but have now returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls" (1 Peter 2:24-25).
Paul, when he wrote to the Galatians, stated, "For all who rely on works of the law are under a curse; for it is written, 'Cursed be everyone who does not abide by all things written in the Book of the Law, and do them.' Now it is evident that no one is justified before God by the law, for 'The righteous shall live by faith.' But the law is not of faith, rather 'The one who does them shall live by them.' Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us—for it is written, 'Cursed is everyone who is hanged on a tree'" (Galatians 3:10-13 quoting Deuteronomy 27:26, Habakkuk 2:4, Leviticus 18:5, Deuteronomy 21:22-23).
Paul stated that those who rely on works of the law are under a curse and that one is justified (a legal term where one is pronounced righteous and acquitted) by faith in Christ. Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming the curse for us dying on the cross.
"After this, Jesus, knowing that all was now finished, said (to fulfill the Scripture), 'I thirst.' A jar full of sour wine stood there, so they put a sponge full of the sour wine on a hyssop branch and held it to his mouth. When Jesus had received the sour wine, he said, 'It is finished,' and He bowed His head and gave up His spirit" (John 19:28-30 quoting Psalm 69:21).
Christ was Buried
In Isaiah, it states, "And they made his grave with the wicked and with a rich man in his death, although he had done no violence, and there was no deceit in his mouth" (Isaiah 53:9).
This would be fulfilled. "After these things Joseph of Arimathea, who was a disciple of Jesus, but secretly for fear of the Jews, asked Pilate that he might take away the body of Jesus, and Pilate gave him permission. So, he came and took away his body. Nicodemus also, who earlier had come to Jesus by night, came bringing a mixture of myrrh and aloes, about seventy-five pounds in weight. So they took the body of Jesus and bound it in linen cloths with the spices, as is the burial custom of the Jews. Now in the place where he was crucified there was a garden, and in the garden a new tomb in which no one had yet been laid. So, because of the Jewish day of Preparation, since the tomb was close at hand, they laid Jesus there" (John 19:38-42).
Jesus Rose Again - Importance
"Now if Christ is proclaimed as raised from the dead, how can some of you say that there is no resurrection of the dead? But if there is no resurrection of the dead, then not even Christ has been raised. And if Christ has not been raised, then our preaching is in vain and your faith is in vain. We are even found to be misrepresenting God, because we testified about God that he raised Christ, whom he did not raise if it is true that the dead are not raised. For if the dead are not raised, not even Christ has been raised. And if Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile and you are still in your sins" (1 Corinthians 15:12-17).
Paul questioned the church stating if Chris is proclaimed as raised from the dead then how some of them could state there's no resurrection. If there is no resurrection of the dead, then not even Christ has been raised. If Christ hasn't been raised, then the preaching would be in vain, and their faith was in vain.
Paul and others would be found to be misrepresenting God, because they testified about God that He raised Christ, whom He did not raise if it's true that the dead aren't raised. If the dead aren't raised, then not even Christ has been raised. If Christ hasn't been raised, then their faith is of no use and empty and they're still in their sins.
However, Jesus Christ is risen!
Peter stated, "Men of Israel, hear these words: Jesus of Nazareth, a man attested to you by God with mighty works and wonders and signs that God did through Him in your midst, as you yourselves know— this Jesus, delivered up according to the definite plan and foreknowledge of God, you crucified and killed by the hands of lawless men. God raised Him up, loosing the pangs of death, because it was not possible for Him to be held by it" (Acts 2:22–24).
Paul wrote, "The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. Therefore, my beloved brothers, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that in the Lord your labor is not in vain" (1 Corinthians 15:56-58).
Our Response
- Repent - convert, turn away from sin and toward Christ
- Believe - personal trust in Jesus Christ; believing the gospel
- Receive - acknowledge Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior
Saved by Grace through Faith in Christ
"For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them" (Ephesians 2:8-10).
God Working in us
"And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ" (Philippians 1:6).
"Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, so now, not only as in my presence but much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure" (Philippians 2:12-13).
"Such is the confidence that we have through Christ toward God. 5 Not that we are sufficient in ourselves to claim anything as coming from us, but our sufficiency is from God, 6 who has made us sufficient to be ministers of a new covenant, not of the letter but of the Spirit. For the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life" (2 Corinthians 3:4-6).
"I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing" (John 15:5).
"Now may the God of peace who brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, the great shepherd of the sheep, by the blood of the eternal covenant, equip you with everything good that you may do his will, working in us that which is pleasing in his sight, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory forever and ever. Amen" (Hebrews 13:20-21).
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