How does 1 Corinthians 15:13 connect with John 11:25 about resurrection? Text for Reflection • 1 Corinthians 15:13 — “If there is no resurrection of the dead, then not even Christ has been raised.” • John 11:25 — “Jesus said to her, ‘I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in Me will live, even though he dies.’” Common Thread: Resurrection Is Non-Negotiable • Paul argues from logic: deny a general resurrection and you erase Christ’s own resurrection. • Jesus speaks from identity: He is, in His very person, “the resurrection.” • Together the passages declare that resurrection is not an optional doctrine; it is the gospel’s backbone. Paul’s Logical Chain (1 Corinthians 15) • v. 13 — No resurrection → Christ not raised. • v. 14 — Christ not raised → preaching useless. • v. 17 — Christ not raised → faith futile, still in sins. • v. 20 — “But Christ has indeed been raised…” ➔ The logic circles back: because Christ is raised, the resurrection of believers is certain. Jesus’ Personal Claim (John 11) • He does not merely promise resurrection; He embodies it. • His statement precedes raising Lazarus, a living illustration that His words carry literal power over death. How the Two Verses Interlock 1. Identity ↔ Proof – John 11:25 reveals who Jesus is. – 1 Corinthians 15:13 shows what must be true if He is who He says. 2. Individual ↔ Corporate – Jesus guarantees life to “whoever believes.” – Paul extends the guarantee to all the dead in Christ. 3. Present Person ↔ Future Event – In Jesus, resurrection is already present (“I am”). – In Paul, resurrection is a future certainty anchored in that present reality. Supporting Passages • 1 Corinthians 15:20-22 — “For as in Adam all die, so in Christ all will be made alive.” • John 5:28-29 — the hour is coming when “all who are in the graves will hear His voice.” • Romans 6:4-5 — united with Him in death and “certainly” united in resurrection. • 1 Thessalonians 4:14 — “We believe that Jesus died and rose again, and so we believe…” • Revelation 1:17-18 — Jesus holds “the keys of Death and of Hades.” Practical Takeaways • Confidence: Christ’s empty tomb secures your future body. • Comfort: the graves of believers are temporary addresses. • Commission: preaching is never “in vain” (1 Corinthians 15:58) because resurrection guarantees lasting results. |
    |