Lessons

The Resurrection of Christ. The Easter holiday is the most celebrated event in all of Christianity. The lesson on April 8, 2007 reads in 1 Corinthians 15:12 where Paul was instructing the church in Corinth that the resurrection was real and Christ lives. Further Paul says in 1 Corinthians 15:20-23 “But now is Christ risen from the dead, and become the firstfruits of them that slept. For since by man came death, by man came also the resurrection of the dead. For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive. But every man in his own order: Christ the firstfruits; afterward they that are Christ’s at his coming.” The problem in Corinth was some were saying there was no resurrection. We have hope in a life hereafter because He lives! Jesus Christ knew what was before him but he didn’t let that deter him from what he had to do. In Matthew 16:21 “From that time forth began Jesus to shew unto his disciples, how that he must go unto Jerusalem, and suffer many things of the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and be raised again the third day.” The apostles didn’t understand what he was talking about until after the resurrection. When he came to the garden of Gethsemane in Matthew 26:39, Jesus prayed “And he went a little further, and fell on his face, and prayed, saying, O my Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me: nevertheless not as I will, but as thou wilt.” The cup Jesus was referring to was the cup filled with every sin of the world and the wrath of God. Judas then betrays Jesus and guards came and took him to the Chief Priest: Matthew 26:57 “And they that had laid hold on Jesus led him away to Caiaphas the high priest, where the scribes and the elders were assembled.” When Jesus was dragged in front of every Roman official and Jewish Priest on his trial, he didn’t say a word. Why did Jesus remain silent? It says in Isaiah 53:5-7 “But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed. All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the LORD hath laid on him the iniquity of us all. He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth: he is brought as a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is dumb, so he openeth not his mouth.” They took him to the cross to die for you and me. The cross is the bridge between the love of God and the joy of God. The cross is what everyone has to go through to get to the empty tomb. The resurrection is what gives us hope! Click here to listen now. You may also want to hear other lessons about Easter and the Resurrection of Christ.