Week 30—Wednesday 1 Corinthians 4:14-16
Week 30—WEDNESDAY
“PROCLAIMING THE RESURRECTION
FROM THE DEAD—THE RESURRECTION OF JESUS
This passage reveals the Word become flesh: “They were still addressing the people when the chief priests came upon them, together with the Controller of the Temple and the Sadducees, exasperated at their teaching the people and proclaiming the resurrection from the dead—the resurrection of Jesus” (Acts 4:1-2, NEB). Note “proclaiming the resurrection from the dead”—that would have been innocuous—a doctrine, a philosophy, an abstract idea. But when they added “proclaiming the resurrection from the dead—the resurrection of Jesus”—that made the teaching concerning the Resurrection become flesh. In the resurrection of Jesus they were confronted, not with a philosophy, but with a fact—the greatest fact of history.
No wonder the Jewish leaders reacted, not verbally, but violently: “They were arrested and put in prison for the night” (vs. 3, NEB). You have to take sides with a proposition like this for it is not a proposition—it is a Person, alive and inescapable. Some threw them into prison, but some threw open their hearts and received this glorious fact: “But many of those who heard the message became believers. The number of men now reached about five thousand” (vs. 4, NEB).
Here was a gospel that wasn’t a subject of discussion, but of decision. God had acted and people were compelled to react, one way or the other. No place for indifference. Today’s preaching is mainly the Word become word, so you need not decide anything. You can like it or dislike it, but nothing vital happens. You can treat it as you do a commercial on TV, “Oh, yeah!” But you don’t treat the real Jesus with, “Oh, yeah!” You go away sorrowful or you are at his feet. This kind of preaching brings prison or conversion.
O God, forgive us that we preach the resurrection of the dead—a doctrine—instead of the resurrection of Jesus—a fact. Save us from the gospel of the turned edge—turned toward an idea—instead of the gospel of the cutting edge. Amen.
AFFIRMATION FOR THE DAY: My gospel shall lead, not to comment, but to conversion.