Easter
1 Corinthians 15:8-10
15:8 Then last of all He was seen by me also, as by one born out of due time. 15:9 For I am the least of the apostles, who am not worthy to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God. 15:10 But by the grace of God I am what I am, and His grace toward me was not in vain; but I labored more abundantly than they all, yet not I, but the grace of God which was with me. (1 Corinthians 15:8-10)
Happy Easter! First Corinthians Chapter fifteen is probably most popular passage for Easter. Here, Apostle Paul discussed the fact of Christ's resurrection. The fact of Christ's resurrection is the foundation of our faith. Verse fourteen says, "And if Christ is not risen, then our preaching is empty and your faith is also empty." Our faith came from the fact of Christ's resurrection. If Christ is not risen, we come to the church for feeling a longing for Jesus who died long years ago. But our worship service is not a memorial service for Jesus. We gather together to worship living Jesus, who presents here, loves us, guides us, and help us. You are saved through the faith in Christ, and you came here believing that He is risen and lives. However, Paul reported his own experience of meeting the resurrected Jesus as well as the discussion on the resurrection. Jesus' resurrection is a historical fact. But at the same time it is also a personal experience. We are unable to talk about it without mentioning own experience in meeting the living Jesus. It is my desire that all of us will experience a new life from knowing Jesus personally while maintaining a strong theological conviction of the resurrection. Have you met Jesus? How have you been changed when you met him? Do you have the joy of forgiveness? Can you accept yourself as you are? Are you saved from loneliness? Do you know the meanings of your life? Do you have the purpose or goals of your life? Are you really saved from the fear of death? Do you rest in the true peace? All of them are in the resurrected Jesus. Paul testified regarding the fact of the resurrection through his personal experiences. When he first met Jesus he was a persecutor. He never accepted Jesus as Christ, Saviour. He bound Christians and put them into jail, as you read it in Acts Chapter nine. He still breathing threats and murder against the disciples of the Lord went to Damascus. On his way to Damascus, Jesus appeared him. Paul found that Jesus was Christ. He did a complete about-face. Jesus changed him. An enemy of Christ became an apostle of Christ. And more over, he became the greatest apostle regarding world evangelism. But he called himself as "the least of the apostles." In Ephesians 3:8, he called himself even as "less than the least of all the saints." Why? Because he was a persecutor. He had to touch his past, his old sores. Paul made himself humble every time when he testified the greatness of Christ. He confessed his sin and shame whenever he spoke about the glory of his resurrection. Who can meet the resurrected Christ? Who can get the power from him? They are the people who know and honestly recognize their sins and weaknesses. Let's make ourselves humble before the resurrected and glorified Christ knowing our own sins and weaknesses. Let's confess that we need him because of our sinfulness and unfaithfulness. However Paul's weakness turned to strength. His dark side became light. Paul said, "But by the grace of God I am what I am, and His grace toward me was not in vain; but I labored more abundantly than they all, yet not I, but the grace of God which was with me." Verse ten. When Paul testified Christ's resurrection, he spoke his sins and weaknesses at the same time. His sharing never became stumbling blocks, but the testimony of Christ's grace. Because his life was changed by Christ. We also know our weaknesses and recognize our sinfulness. We think that we are too insignificant to witness for Jesus. We hesitate to share the good news. You know that true testimony is not to drum out our own goodness or faithfulness. Who are the witnesses of the resurrected Jesus and his grace? They are who know their sinfulness and recognize their weakness. Do you believe that Christ died for our sins and that he rose again the third day? If so, you can become a witness of Christ. If you have met Jesus, if your view of life and the world, your value, your heart, and your life were changed, even though you are weak and little, you can share your faith, hope and love that the world never knows. Many people await the message of salvation. Let's praise Christ who died for us and rose again. Let's show the living Christ though ourselves.Prayer
Our Father, we learned that Paul was so honest to share his sins and weakness when he proclaim Christ's resurrection. We get to know that you please and use such testimonies for our friends. We can become the witnesses of Christ's resurrection; even we have the same weaknesses. O Lord, on this Easter Sunday, give us power and send us to our friends and neighbors as Christ's witnesses. In the gracious name of Jesus Christ, we pray.(April 4, 1999 at SDJCC)