March 2008

"For what I received I passed on to you as of first importance." That is how the apostle Paul sets the tone for the great resurrection chapter of the Bible, I Corinthians 15. This month we celebrate the festival of Easter, the victory of Christ over death and the grave for us. To be sure, it is the grandest day in the church year. On Easter Sunday we each find it especially reinforced to us that what we have received of first importance is the fact that the very thing Paul received so many, many years ago - the good news of the Gospel!

What we have received compels us to share it with others just as Paul did with the Corinthians. "Go and tell," Jesus instructed an excitedly bewildered Mary after His resurrection (John 20:17). Telling others of the resurrection was the reaction of the three women who discovered the empty tomb (Luke 24:7-10). "What I received, I passed on," was Paul's Christian compulsion and it continues to be for all post-Easter Christians.

Why? because the Gospel is of FIRST importance. The Easter news is of first importance to us and certainly would be to others. We celebrate the resurrection of our Lord as of first importance every Sunday we gather for worship, and we do so especially on Easter Sunday. We do this because it is of FIRST importance to us. It is what gives us hope in life, comfort at death, and joy for all eternity.

Paul writes at the end of the great resurrection chapter: "Where, O death, is your victory? Where, O death, is your sting... Thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ!" We have received this victory! It is in Easter triumph that we live each day. Indeed, we are much blessed that this has been passed on to us as of first importance. Perhaps the celebration of this year's Easter festival will move us to share with others its message of victory and life through Jesus "as of first importance".

A joy-filled Easter to all!

Pastor John

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