Of first importance:

Of first importance: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures; that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures.

1 Corinthians 15:3-4  

The reality of the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus is key: of first importance! The aftermath of Golgotha was intense.

Much has been made of the swoon theory—that Jesus was not dead. However, the soldiers at the cross deemed He had died and did not need His legs broken to speed up the process. To make sure, they pierced both His pericardial sac and heart—proof certain of His death indicated by the sudden flow of blood and water (John 19:31-35).*

To add to the intensity of the occasion, the chief priests and Pharisees went to Pilate and asked for a guard to be posted at the tomb: “Sir,” they said, “we remember that while he was still alive that deceiver said, ‘After three days I will rise again.’ So give the order for the tomb to be made secure until the third day” (Matthew 27:62-66).  

But the guard was not the answer. On the first day of the week, when the stone was rolled back from the entrance to the tomb, Jesus was not inside. He had risen indeed! (Matthew 28:2-7). And His followers all kept their stories straight—they had seen Jesus, in the flesh, with bones, able to eat (Luke 24:39-42).

Many years ago I read a book by Chuck Colson, of Watergate notoriety. None of the convicted men—educated, intelligent, well-trained lawyers—could keep their stories straight.

Thomas’ total assurance following his Lord’s invitation to touch the nail holes in His hands and feet and the wound on His side (John 20:27-28) speaks volumes.  

Jesus was alive! And He would never die again: “He is the ‘first fruits,’ the ‘pioneer of life.’ He has forced open a door that has been locked since the death of the first man.”** Our hope in eternity rests on this one thing—Of first importance: Jesus’ death, burial and resurrection!  

Nancy P

All Scripture quotations are from the NIV Translation 1973, 1978, 1984, unless otherwise noted.

*Life Application Bible, NIV, p.1924, Tyndale House Publishers, 1988,1989,1990,1991.

**C.S. Lewis, Miracles, Macmillan, 1947.