Editorial

This Lord's Day Christians around the world will celebrate the glorious resurrection of Jesus. As the Scriptures report and believers from the First Century forward have testified, on the third day after His burial, Jesus arose from the grave leaving behind an empty tomb.

Because of the worldwide phenomenon of Mel Gibson’s "The Passion of The Christ," the biblical truth of Jesus’ atoning work on the cruel cross of Calvary is getting an intense reappraisal by many non-believers. This is a very good thing, an unusual opportunity for meaningful engagement with the culture about the life and death of Jesus Christ – and His demand on all humanity to repent, even today.

Unfortunately, as movie goers witness the graphic and gripping portrayal of Jesus’ death, they are exposed to only a brief account of the "rest of the story," as Paul Harvey says. The greatest weakness of "The Passion" is Gibson’s exceedingly weak treatment of what happens after Jesus was laid in the tomb – so weak that the scene almost seems like an after-thought. Although the scope of the movie is not intended to go beyond Jesus’ passion, the testimony of Christian Scripture is that the work of Jesus on the cross is incomplete without – and cannot be separated from – his victory over the grave.

The resurrection of Jesus is central to the Christian faith. Without the resurrection, this One who claimed to be the Son of God, would offer no hope for His followers.

"Had Jesus died and done nothing more, He would have been a martyr but not a Savior," Southern Baptist theologian and statesman Herschel Hobbs wrote in his commentary on the Baptist Faith and Message.

R. Albert Mohler Jr., president of The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, has written: "The claim that Jesus actually rose from the dead on the third day is perhaps the greatest scandal of authentic Christianity in the face of modern secularism. The bodily resurrection of Jesus is so absolutely fundamental and necessary to biblical Christianity – and to the Gospel – that its abandonment would mean the end of Christianity as revealed in the New Testament. Jesus would be just one more Palestinian rebel; one more wisdom teacher with rag-tag disciples."

Indeed, the resurrection of Jesus is at the very core of the Gospel, as the New Testament record makes clear.

In 1 Cor. 15, the Apostle Paul directly ties the historical reality of the resurrection to the Gospel message. In this stirring chapter, Paul provides an exhaustive defense of the resurrection, answering contemporaries who argued there is no resurrection of the dead. If Christ did not arise from the tomb, Paul says our preaching is in vain (v. 14), our faith is in vain (v. 14), we are false witnesses (v. 15), we are still in our sins (v. 17), there is no hope for those who have trusted in him in death (v. 18), and "we are of all men most to be pitied" (v. 19). If Jesus’ resurrection did not happen, we should live only for ourselves today "for tomorrow we die," he adds in verse 32.

But thanks be to God, Jesus arose! Paul tells the Corinthians that "as of first importance" not only did Jesus die for our sins, he was raised from the dead – both "according to the Scriptures" (vv. 3-4). As proof, he cites the many and varied eyewitnesses of Jesus’ resurrection, including himself (vv. 5-11).

Because Jesus arose, we "who are Christ’s" will also enjoy the blessings of resurrection (v. 23). The resurrection of Jesus has taken away the victory and sting of death (vv. 54-57). Because Jesus arose, those who repent of their sins and profess faith in Christ are ensured of eternal life.

As in the first century, there are many enemies today of the truth of the resurrection, some of whom even profess to be Christians. They argue that dead men don’t arise because miracles are not possible.

Why? Mohler answers, "Because the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead is the vindication of God’s purpose in sending his Son for the redemption of sinners. A world full of degenerate moderns – who do not even see themselves as sinners – wants nothing to do with Jesus Christ as our sinless substitute, who shed his blood for the remission of our sins."

The resurrection of Jesus not only gives Christians hope for the life to come, it should be a motivation for ministry and service to God today. Paul writes: "Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your toil is not in vain in the Lord" (v. 58).

Florida Baptists, let us press on, taking comfort in this promise as we serve Him. There are yet millions in the Sunshine State, across America and around the world who have not professed faith in Christ. As our relatives, neighbors, friends and colleagues see Gibson’s profound re-telling of Jesus’ work on the cross, we must help them understand that the "rest of the story" is their only basis for hope for this life and the next.

Let’s tell the Good News: He is arisen! And because Jesus lives, sinners have the privilege of sharing in His resurrection as they place their faith in the crucified, resurrected, now reigning and soon returning Son of God!

Hallelujah, what a Savior!