1 Corinthians 15:5-11, “Witnesses of the Resurrection.”
The Gospel of Christ that has been preached since the beginning says (vv. 3-4),
“that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures.”
Christ’s resurrection is synonymous with Christianity, without it we have no hope now or forever, for we are dead in our sins, destined to spend eternity in hell. Verses 5-7... Eyewitness testimony is still considered to be the most reliable testimony in a court of law. Here we have such testimony given and recorded concerning the, resurrection of Jesus Christ.
Let me change gears just a little here, in that, one of the requirements of an apostle of Christ was to have seen the resurrected Lord, another was to have been taught by Him. When it was time to replace Judas, it is recorded (Acts 1:20-22), “it is necessary to choose one of the men who have been with us the whole time the Lord Jesus went in and out among us, beginning from John's baptism to the time when Jesus was taken up from us. For one of these must become a witness with us of his resurrection.”
The priority of the resurrection is clearly referenced, and as Paul states (v. 5), Jesus’ first appearance to an apostle was to Cephas (Aramaic) or Peter (Greek).
Peter was the leader of the twelve, the main preacher at Pentecost, and the leader of the church in its early years; Peter was a prime witness for the resurrection.
Paul tells us (v. 5) Jesus appeared to the “twelve” next, but there were only eleven, as Judas had already died and a replacement hadn’t been selected yet; it would seem that the eleven were still referred to as the twelve.
The thing is, the men who the Lord would use to establish His church had to be witnesses of His resurrection, for they would be spreading the word concerning the death and resurrection of the Messiah.
Paul records that Jesus then appeared to a group of more than 500 brothers (and sisters) at one time. This is awesome, as Paul is now writing 20+ years after that happened, and he is saying that although some of those witnesses have died, most of those who witnessed Christ’s resurrection were still alive, able to testify to this.
We know that Jesus (Acts 1:3), “showed himself to these men and gave many convincing proofs that he was alive. He appeared to them over a period of forty days,” between His resurrection and ascension back into heaven.
Paul tells us (v. 7) that Jesus appeared, “to James, then to all the apostles.” It is likely that James is the Lord’s half brother, who did not come to saving faith until he saw the risen Lord; he then became a leader in the Jerusalem church and the author of book of James.
Verses 8-10... Paul, as an unbeliever, was the main persecutor of the followers of Christ; until the risen Lord appeared to him on the road to Damascus. And so, Paul says, “last of all he (Jesus) appeared to me also, as to one abnormally born.”
All the others to whom the Lord had appeared, had seen Him while he was alive and after He had died and risen from the grave. All those Jesus appeared to were believers, except perhaps James who then became a believer; but Paul had not seen Jesus during the 40 days between Christ’s resurrection and ascension, instead, the Lord appeared to Paul after the Lord had ascended back into heaven.
No wonder Paul felt like one abnormally born, the other apostles had walked with Jesus for three years, being taught by Him; whereas Paul had not only rejected Him as the Messiah, he had persecuted His followers.
After his conversion, Paul was taught by the Lord (Galatians 1:11-12), “I want you to know, brothers, that the gospel I preached is not something that man made up. I did not receive it from any man, nor was I taught it; rather, I received it by revelation from Jesus Christ,” (vv. 16-18), “I did not immediately consult with flesh and blood, nor did I go up to Jerusalem to those who were apostles before me; but I went away to Arabia, and returned once more to Damascus. Then three years later I went up to Jerusalem to become acquainted with Cephas, and stayed with him fifteen days.”
Paul was fully convinced of his apostleship and also of the grace and forgiveness of God. The twelve apostles, the original eleven and Matthias (who took Judas’ place), had been commissioned within the territory of Israel, and they ministered to Jews; but Paul was commissioned outside of Israel and ministered mostly to Gentiles.
Paul labored more than any of the apostles and yet, he is not boasting (2Corinthians 11:23-12:12), but saying that all of this is because of God’s marvelous grace.
Paul had no authority apart from Christ, he could do nothing of value if it were not for Christ working in and through him to accomplish this (Ephesians 3:8-21).
Truth be told, it was the resurrected Christ who had changed Paul forever, empowering him and personally instructing him in the Word of God. Paul had been an enemy of God and God’s people; but he was now a bond slave of God and a servant to God’s people.
Paul had aggressively persecuted the Followers of Christ before his conversion on the road to Damascus (Acts 9:1-2); but after he confessed Jesus as Lord, he became the most outspoken proponent for the Christian faith in the Scriptures; in fact, the same people he was previously hunting down and throwing in jail, he was now calling his brothers and sisters in Christ.
Verse 11... The priority is on the message, not the messenger! Basically Paul is saying, it doesn’t matter if it is me, or Peter, the other apostles, the 500, James, or anybody else, the message we share is what’s important (vv. 3-4), “that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, that he was buried, and that he was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures.”
Forgiveness for sins was made effectual through Christ’s death, eternal life was demonstrated at His resurrection; and so, whenever, wherever, and by whomever the message of Christ is preached, the Lord’s resurrection must be proclaimed. Romans 6:4-5, ”We were therefore buried with him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life. If we have been united with him like this in his death, we will certainly also be united with him in his resurrection.”
1Peter 1:3, “Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead.” 21, “Through him you believe in God, who raised him from the dead and glorified him, and so your faith and hope are in God.”
RESURRECTION Appearances of JESUS
Look up the references below, and write down what you find.
1. Mary Magdalene at the tomb (Mark 16:9; John 20:11-18)
2. The women leaving the tomb (Matthew 28:9-10)
3. Two disciples on the road to Emmaus (Luke 24:13-32), one named Cleopas
4. Peter (Luke 24:33-34)
5. Ten disciples, Thomas absent (Luke 24:36-43; John 20:19-25)
6. Eleven disciples, Thomas present (John 20:26-29)
7. Seven disciples by the Sea of Galilee (John 21:1-25)
8. 500 disciples (1Corinthians 15:6), on a mountain in Galilee (Matthew 28:16) 9. James (1Corinthians 15:7)
10. The apostles at the ascension into heaven (Acts 1:3-11)
11. Paul (Acts 9:1-8; 18:9-10; 23:11; 1Corinthians 15:8; 2Corinthians 12:1-6).