The Third Day

by John Gipson

Paul was certain. Christ had been raised from the dead. It was no phantom that had come into the upper room, or talked with the disciples   on the road to Emmaus, or come to the shores of the Sea of Galilee. While these things had happened to others, Paul certainly did not doubt them, because the Lord had actually appeared to him! And that appearance changed the whole course of his life.

The apostle reminded the Corinthians that the death and resurrection of Christ was according to the Scriptures.

“For what I received I passed on to you as of first importance: 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” (1 Corinthians 15:3-4). It had happened just as the holy scriptures had testified. That should convince God-fearing people.

Paul recounted Christ’s appearance to Cephas, then to the twelve, but he does not stop there.

“After that, he appeared to more than five hundred of the brothers at the same time, most of whom are still living, though some have fallen asleep.” At the time Paul wrote there were evidently more than 250 persons still living who had seen the Savior on one occasion after his rising from the dead. Now here was an assertion which the Corinthians might, if they would, verify for themselves. They could actually pay a visit to some of those people and cross-examine them. Obviously, Paul was not one bit concerned about presenting such a challenge. He   was sure of his ground. He planted his foot upon the rock of experience—his own, and the experience of others.

In ringing words Paul declares, “But Christ has indeed been raised from the dead, the first fruits of those who have fallen asleep.”

In Christ is a power which death cannot extinguish. In Christ and his resurrection lies our hope.