How Death is Dead (1 Corinthians 15-16)
Does death scare you? It doesn't have to.
1 Corinthians 15-16
Today's Scripture Passage
A Few Thoughts to Consider
Does death scare you?
Sometimes, we enter phases of life where death feels especially overwhelming. Maybe we lose a close family member or a series of friends. When this happens, we feel the noose of death tightening around us—reminding us of our mortality and those we hold dear. If we’re not careful, death can paralyze us. When this happens, one of the best things we can do is turn to the Apostle Paul’s words in 1 Corinthians 15:1-4:
1 Now I want to make clear for you, brothers and sisters, the gospel I preached to you, which you received, on which you have taken your stand 2 and by which you are being saved, if you hold to the message I preached to you—unless you believed in vain. 3 For I passed on to you as most important what I also received: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, 4 that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures.
Paul wrote this chapter to address and refute doubts among the Corinthian believers regarding the resurrection of the dead. Because many in Corinth denied the resurrection of the human body, “Paul feels a need to establish as apostolic the doctrine of the resurrection of Jesus.”[1] By establishing Christ’s resurrection, he establishes that all who know Christ will never die. The resurrection of Christ is the Christian’s reason for hope. As Timothy Keller writes, the resurrection is “the hinge upon which the story of the world pivots.”[2]
There are several compelling reasons to believe in the resurrection. First, the initial eyewitnesses were women—a notable point since women's testimonies were not highly valued in that culture. This adds credibility to the accounts. Additionally, documentary evidence supports the event, providing historical backing. The disciples had no motive to fabricate such a claim; it brought them no financial gain or social advantage but rather persecution and hardship.
Multiple individuals witnessed Jesus after His resurrection, strengthening the validity of these claims. The transformation of the early disciples—from fear to bold proclamation—is remarkable. They were even willing to face death rather than deny what they knew to be true. Even atheistic philosopher Anthony Flew had to admit, “The evidence for the resurrection is better than for claimed miracles in any other religion. It’s outstandingly different in quality and quantity from the evidence offered for the occurrence of most other supposedly miraculous events.”[3]
A Meditation to PRAY
Praise | Jesus, I praise you for your resurrection, which fills me with hope beyond this life. Your victory over death assures me of eternal life with you and those I love. Thank you for the unshakable foundation your promises provide, grounding me in unwavering faith.
Release | I release the fears and anxieties that grip my heart when death feels overwhelming. Help me to let go of my worries and trust in your everlasting promise, allowing me to find peace in your presence. Grant me the serenity to embrace your love and the courage to face each day confidently.
Ask | I ask for your strength to face the loss of loved ones and the challenges that remind me of my mortality. Empower me with the same boldness that transformed the early disciples so I may live out my faith courageously. Guide me to support others who are also struggling, reflecting your compassion and grace.
Yield | I yield my fears to you, embracing the assurance that death does not have the final word. Lead me to live confidently in the hope of resurrection, knowing that you sustain me through every trial and guide me towards eternal life. Help me to fully surrender my worries, trusting in your divine plan and everlasting love.
