Have you ever asked God for a sign? It seems to be a common human experience. We imagine that if God would show us some tangible undeniable proof there is no way we could doubt—we would certainly believe! When Jesus walked the earth, many people did the same thing. When asked for a sign, Jesus said only one will be given, the sign of Jonah. This is a reference to Jesus’ death and resurrection. We have no need of another, we have the greatest sign God could ever give—a risen Savior!
There is nothing more important to the Christian faith than the resurrection of Jesus! Everything hinges on it. Paul writes in 1 Corinthians 15:14, “And if Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile and you are still in your sins”. This past Resurrection Sunday we studied Mark 16:1-8 and considered the “Evidence of the Resurrection” and its great implications.
Christianity hinges on the Gospel, the good news of Jesus Christ! After many chapters detailing the Corinthians sinful past, Paul makes the turn in 1 Corinthians 15 to describe their glorious future that is only possible through the Gospel itself.
It’s all been building to this! Luke wants us to see, the whole book, the whole Bible points to this. Jesus said, “It is written: The Messiah will suffer and rise from the dead on the third day, and repentance for the forgiveness of sins will be preached in His name to all the nations.” (Luke 24:46-47)