The NT epistle for the Third Sunday before Lent is 1 Cor 15.11–22, which follows from our reading two weeks ago. The focus on hope of resurrection as central to Christian faith complements the gospe reading of Luke 6 and his version of the Beatitudes.
This section of 1 Cor 15 is fascinating, since Paul here makes his most extensive use of Graeco-Roman rhetorical techniques. It is vital to follow the logic of what he is saying, as he connects the question of future hope, apostolic testimony, the nature of Christian belief all with the resurrection of Jesus. Jesus’ bodily resurrection is set out as the centre of all credible Christian belief.
Come and join Ian and James as they explore these questions!
The video on the gospel reading for this week of Luke 6.17–26, Luke’s version of the beatitudes, can be found here.
You can read the written commentary about it here.
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It is perhaps unfortunate that this post did not come before
the carnal warfare of the previous post.
The link of the Gospel reading being … 6:28 Bless them that curse you, and pray for them which despitefully use you.
Jesus could face being despitefully used [and even being smitten of God] “for the Joy that was before him ” because of the power of God to raise Him from the dead.
Yes, it is important for people to understand and believe in the Resurrection of the body because “It is appointed unto men once to die but after this the judgment:Heb 9 v 27.
To have a basic knowledge of the fact of resurrection is essential but more important is to know intimately the experience of resurrection in our own lives as Paul solely and earnestly desired {…that I might know the Power of His resurrection]
And of course, Paul recounting how he was despitefully used.
Yet he declares COR. 1:8 For we would not, brethren, have you ignorant of our trouble which came to us in Asia, that we were pressed out of measure, above strength, insomuch that we despaired even of life:
1:9 But we had the sentence of death in ourselves, that we should not trust in ourselves, but in God which raiseth the dead:
1:10 Who delivered us from so great a death, and doth deliver: in whom we trust that he will yet deliver us; Cf. 2 COR. 11 VS.23 ~ 26.
It is a most glorious thing not only to believe in the resurrection but to experience it in all its mighty power….”The power that works within us”…. Too wonderful for words.