He Got Better

"If there is no resurrection of the dead, then not even Christ has been raised. And if Christ has not been raised, our preaching is useless and so is your faith" (1 Corinthians 15:13-14, NIV).

"And if Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile; you are still in your sins" (1 Corinthians 15:17, NIV).

"If all we get out of Christ is a little inspiration for a few short years, we're a pretty sorry lot. But the truth is that Christ has been raised up, the first in a long legacy of those who are going to leave the cemeteries" (1 Corinthians 15:19-20, The Message).

When Christopher was 2 years old, we were driving along a street as he spotted a church building with a cross on it. He exclaimed, "That's a cross!" Janet and I were a little surprised, but we responded, "Yes, that's a cross." Then Christopher asked, "Jesus died there?" I said, "Yes, Jesus died on a cross. Then what happened?" With full assurance, Christopher answered, "He got better."

"He got better." In his own words, our 2 year-old son had articulated an accurate understanding of the most important event in human history: Jesus Christ had risen from the dead after paying the penalty of death for our sins.

His resurrection substantiated everything he had claimed. He really had fulfilled the expectations of the Law and the Prophets. He really had satisfied God on our behalf. He really was the Son of God.

Now, Christ's followers can look forward to the day he returns (1 Corinthians 15:51-57). Yes. "He got better" and he made it possible for his disciples to get better, too.