Saturday, February 22, 2025  

Today's Scripture
1 Corinthians 15:12–20

Now if Christ is proclaimed as raised from the dead, how can some of you say there is no resurrection of the dead? If there is no resurrection of the dead, then Christ has not been raised; and if Christ has not been raised, then our proclamation has been in vain and your faith has been in vain. We are even found to be misrepresenting God, because we testified of God that he raised Christ—whom he did not raise if it is true that the dead are not raised. For if the dead are not raised, then Christ has not been raised. If Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile and you are still in your sins. Then those also who have died in Christ have perished. If for this life only we have hoped in Christ, we are of all people most to be pitied.

But in fact Christ has been raised from the dead, the first fruits of those who have died. (NRSV)

Reflection

Jesus has so much to offer as a moral leader, and sometimes we focus on him as simply a wise teacher or positive example. And why not? As a parent and a teacher with children and youth, I can think of no better role model for our kids! When we encourage them to ask, “What Would Jesus Do? (WWJD),” we are confident that Jesus would always do the responsible thing. He would treat everyone with kindness, stand up to bullies, share his lunch, and always text his mom if he was running late (although I’m certain Jesus would never stay out past curfew).

All of this is true — yet insufficient. We don’t follow Jesus because he’s “nice” or “kind.” We build our lives around him because he is God, and because he is evidence of God’s most miraculous gift — victory over death and the promise of eternal life with God. And that’s what Paul wants us to understand today.

Paul’s legal training is in full force here, and he crafts an airtight closing statement. The resurrection of Jesus and the resurrection of humanity are intrinsically connected, he argues. We can’t believe in the miracle of Jesus’ resurrection without believing that we, too, will one day be raised from the dead.

Paul knows what’s at stake here: if the Corinthians don’t believe that they will be raised with Christ, they cannot truly believe in the miracle of Christ’s resurrection. If they don’t, are they simply following one of many good teachers, rather than following God? It’s a lot to believe, and yet it is this knowledge that allows us to build our lives around our faith in Jesus. Lord, I believe. Help my unbelief.

Prayer
Holy God, thank you for sending Jesus, so that we might first know how to live and then so that we might die and be raised with him. It’s too great for me to comprehend, so help me believe and to live my life in response. Amen.

Written by Amy Pagliarella, Parish Associate for Caring Ministries

Reflection and Prayer © Fourth Presbyterian Church

Devotion index by date | I’d like to receive daily devotions by email