The resurrection of Jesus is the key foundation stone of our faith. Without it, Christianity crumbles! In 1 Corinthians 15:1-19, Paul emphasizes its importance to the Corinthian brethren. He reminds these saints that Jesus didn’t just die and be buried, but he was also raised and seen by numerous eyewitnesses. Let’s consider some of these eyewitnesses.

The Women

  • Jesus first appeared to several women (Luke 24:1-11).
  • In first-century Jewish society, women were not considered credible witnesses. They could not even testify in a court of law.
  • The fact that gospel writers record Jesus appearing to the last people anyone would believe at that time is evidence that Jesus was seen alive again.

The Apostles

  • Jesus appeared to His apostles after being raised (1 Corinthians 15:5). This is powerful because they were not expecting to see Him alive again (Mark 16:14; John 20:19-28). After the Lord was killed on the cross, they hid in fear of the Jews.
  • In a mere few weeks, Peter transformed from being a coward who denied Jesus to someone who boldly announced Him to be the Messiah on the day of Pentecost (Acts 2:36).
  • This incredible transformation can be attributed to him witnessing the resurrection. Peter saw Jesus victorious over death and was willing to die, testifying about what he knew to be true.

James

  • James was the brother of the Lord (Mark 6:3). He did not believe in Jesus during His earthly ministry (Mark 3:21; John 7:3-5).
  • And yet, James later refers to himself as a bondservant of Jesus (James 1:1).
  • This dramatic shift in his attitude towards Jesus can be attributed to the resurrection (1 Corinthians 15:6-7). Jesus appearing to James convinced him that his brother was the Son of God!

Paul

  • Paul was the last person to whom Jesus appeared (1 Corinthians 15:8). Paul was a zealous Jew who led great persecution against the church (Acts 8:1-3). He wanted to wipe Christianity off of the face of the planet.
  • Paul would later become one of the greatest promoters of the gospels. He would suffer intense persecution at the hands of those who opposed Christ (2 Corinthians 11:23-27).
  • Paul’s transformation did not result in him receiving money, fame, and power in his life. He was willing to give up a comfortable life in Judaism to suffer for Christ because he saw Him raised from the dead.

The Impact

  • The witnesses to Jesus’ resurrection should impact our faith. It should give us confidence that being a Christian and serving Jesus is not a waste of time (1 Corinthians 15:58).
  • Jesus is who He claimed to be (Romans 1:4).
  • We also will be raised and stand before God (Acts 17:30-31).

Conclusion:

Let us never be ashamed to boldly proclaim that we can be sure Jesus is the Savior because He was raised from the dead!