Bite-sized theology for the next generation.
This Podcast is a student ministry of Biblical Seminary of the Philippines.
Our goal for this program is to glorify God by making His grace known throughout the next generation.
Why the Resurrection of Jesus is so Important
Welcome to the first episode of Theology Tidbits: bite-sized theology for the next generation.
JOLO: Welcome to our podcast Theology Tidbits bite sized theology for the next generation
GRACE: This podcast is a student ministry of the Biblical Seminary of the Philippines, our hope and our goal for this program is to glorify God by making His grace and truth known to the next generation.
CHRISTIAN: Hi, this is Christian…
MITCH: and this is Mitch, We are students at BSOP and we will serve as your host today for our podcast Theology Tidbits.
CHRISTIAN: In today’s podcast, we discuss why the resurrection of Jesus is so important. Presently, we celebrate the season of Lent, a big Christian holiday celebrated virtually around the world, and that includes the Philippines. Lent is a pretty big thing here in our country. Isn’t it, Mitch?
MITCH: That’s right, Christian. We do not just cancel classes and work during the Holy Week for nothing! It’s even one of the most anticipated holidays in the calendar, of course for varied reasons, including the holiday vacation! But the things we do here in the Philippines during Lenten season… they can get really fascinating… or at times just downright strange.
CHRISTIAN: True. Whenever Lent comes around, I always see what we Pinoys call ‘penitensiya’ or penance. You see men walking on the streets, dressed in some fancy costume. Oh, and almost always wearing a mask to cover their faces. And doing penance, flagellating themselves usually
with those small whips, the kind with short multiple tails or cords. I don’t want to be too graphic but you know it’s a sight that not anyone would like to behold.
MITCH: Yeah. To be honest I would rather not look myself. And then there’s the wooden crosses that some of them carry around as they walk. One easily sees that they’re going for the “Jesus look”—you know, long hair wig, fake beard and all.
CHRISTIAN: Yeah. You can really see how serious they are in what they’re doing. But how about some of the “merrier” or lighter ones, like the TV specials that TV networks air just for the Lenten season? Usually it’s some religious or biblical movie, or any film or show that promotes good values and morals.
MITCH: Yes, and that too. Here’s another one: How about the superstitious beliefs and practices during Lent?
CHRISTIAN: Yeah! Of course! Like one that says you can’t smile during certain days of the Lent… And that you should be fasting…
MITCH: Because God is dead, and you should be mourning.
CHRISTIAN: Yep, precisely! Another one that I hear some of the old folks say is that since God is dead, you should avoid getting wounded or injured as much as possible because they’re not gonna heal. Ever heard of that one?
MITCH: Really? Wow.
CHRISTIAN: Yup. So we hear all these kinds of customs and traditions, beliefs and practices, during the Lenten season, but what does the occasion really mean for us? Well, what we know is that Lent centers on the “passion” of Christ, His final days on earth before He ascended to glory, which culminates in His resurrection from death.
MITCH: That really is the issue, I mean the resurrection–it really must be at the center of it all. In I Corinthians 15, verses 13 to 14 and also 19, we read of how the Apostle Paul thought how important the resurrection is and how it has made all the difference in the life and outlook of the Christian. In verse 13 to 14 it says “ [13] But if there is no resurrection of the dead, then not even Christ has been raised. [14] And if Christ has not been raised, then our preaching is in vain and your faith is in vain. ” Now, in verse 19, he continues to say: “ [19] If in Christ we have hope in this life only, we are of all people most to be pitied. ” These verses seem to say that everything about Christianity stands or falls on the truth of Jesus Christ’s resurrection.
CHRISTIAN: Exactly, Mitch. And to elaborate on this point, let’s discuss the implications in a little more detail. Let’s talk about why the resurrection is such an important event. Two are mentioned in the very context of the verses we just read. First, the resurrection of Jesus shows that God has accepted Christ’s death on our behalf, so that we can know we really are forgiven of all our sins. It says in verse 17: “ [17] And if Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile and you are still in your sins. ” If Christ did not rise again to life, then how can we be sure that his death is really effective for our forgiveness?
MITCH: Right. If you think about it, He could easily have died and never come back to life, if His message of forgiveness of sins was all but a fraud. But it wasn’t–and we know because of His resurrection.
CHRISTIAN: Precisely. And the second one is related to it: The resurrection is important because the resurrection of Jesus gives us hope that we too will live again and that death is not the end for believers. It is found in the next verse, verse 18, where it says: “ [18] Then those also who have fallen asleep in Christ have perished. ” If there is no resurrection, then sin and death have won, and our life ends in our physical death. What a grim picture life on earth would have been, if all there was was a temporary earthly existence. Can you imagine how it will be very easy to find life meaningless if this is true?
MITCH: How depressing it would be. But Jesus is victorious over death, and so are we who believe in Him, as Paul concludes the topic of both the resurrection of Jesus in the past and of the Christian in the future in verses 54-56:
“[54]‘Death is swallowed up in victory.’
[55] ‘O death, where is your victory?
O death, where is your sting?’
[56] The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is
the law. [57] But thanks be to God, who gives us the
victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. ”
CHRISTIAN: Such encouraging words of assurance! Now, a third implication is this: The resurrection of Jesus proves that Jesus told the truth, that he really is the Messiah and Son of God. You know what, Mitch? It’s easy to promise everyone that I’m going to be the savior of the world. I can say that any time, without breaking a sweat. But to follow through and back it up with action, what less than dying and going back to life will suffice?
MITCH: Christ’s resurrection really does validate His whole message. I am reminded of the Apostle Peter’s preaching in Acts chapter 3, wherein, in confrontation with the Jews, he made them realize that they had gotten Jesus terribly wrong by having him killed, and that His resurrection plainly makes it clear. In Acts 3:15, I like how Peter articulates his rebuke in tastefully poetic fashion: “ [15] and you killed the Author of life, whom God raised from the dead. To this we are witnesses. ” What we see here is the following storyline: The Creator of life takes on a human body and dwells among humans. He says awfully hard, but gloriously indisputable truths…He gets killed…But He rises back to life. Now, what excuse does anybody have to deny that He is indeed Lord of all?
CHRISTIAN: Tremendous. There is no middle ground. Either you side against Him in rebellion, or you give your life to Him in glad, total surrender to His power. And being convinced of the power of His resurrection, we can only confess, “Yes, Lord, I surrender to your Lordship!”
MITCH: Amen! I think it’s fitting that we conclude with saying that Christianity, as the only religion of which the Founder has died and resurrected, is unique among all the other religions. We, Christians, believe in a resurrected Savior, and we can trust Him that He’ll be able to get us through any circumstance. For if sin and death was not powerful enough to hold Him back, then there is nothing in this world that God cannot help us overcome, through Christ who gives us strength.
CHRISTIAN: And, for the record, it is not true that God is dead during Good Friday, until the morning of Easter Sunday. He was, is, and forever will be alive! And Christ’s death is a finished work, not to be repeated again and again, because it is indeed final and sufficient to eternally save us.
JOLO: This podcast has been brought to you by the students of Biblical Seminary of the Philippines a school that equips God’s workers with God’s word for God’s work to God’s glory.
GRACE: For more information about Biblical Seminary of the Philippines and our Podcast Theology Tidbits visit our website at bsop.edu.ph may the lord bless you as you continually grow in the knowledge of God’s grace and truth