He Still “Appears”
SCRIPTURE: 1 Corinthians 15:1-18 
Read the passage
BIO: I am Ben McKenney and I originally come from Columbus, Georgia. My wife Mary and I have two daughters, two sons-in-law and four grandchildren. We have been members of FPCO for 43 years and I served as Teacher, Deacon, Elder and then as Church Business Administrator for seventeen years. I love music, making furniture and being with my grandchildren. I also love working with Jobs Partnership – an incredible ministry! I’d love to tell you about it.
KEY VERSE: 1 Corinthians 15:8 “and last of all as it were to one untimely born, He appeared to me also.”
CENTRAL TRUTH: God raised Jesus from the dead. Christ lives! Proof? He appeared to Peter, the twelve and many more. Then, three years later he appeared to Paul… and He is still “appearing”!.
DEVOTIONAL: He Still “Appears”
When I selected the scripture that I would write on I did so without even looking at it first. What was I thinking? Well, after just a few minutes with these verses it became clear that God never disappoints us when we seek Him.
In this section Paul reviews the gospel message that he preached for eighteen months and then suddenly asks why some are saying there is no resurrection of the dead? If there is no resurrection of the dead then not even Christ has been raised, and if Christ has not been raised our faith is vain – worthless. Whoa! Strong language, what are we to think?
I believe that the resurrection of Jesus is the most important single event in history! It is essential to the Christian faith. The last thing Jesus said before he left the earth in body was, “… lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” (Matt. 28:20) He could not still be with us without the Resurrection. Jesus defeated death, meaning he lives forever. I know, you are thinking proof right?
Theologian William Barclay suggests that the greatest evidence of the Resurrection is not in any of the Gospels but is in this very passage where Paul relates his personal experience. Paul tells how Jesus appeared to Peter, James, the twelve and many more, then, although it was three years later, he says “…Jesus appeared to me.” Paul is putting Jesus’ appearance to him on a level with all the other appearances. It was the same, and this is the whole point. Though the time, place and particulars may vary his appearances are all the same, the same appearance of the same risen Christ… yesterday, today and tomorrow.
Christ appears only to those who love him and seek him. It is not about a physical or earthly thing, we are talking about a spiritual thing which happened to Paul and can happen to us as well. Christ lives and he still appears to those who love him. Seek him and you will not be disappointed.
QUESTION 1: How does Revelation 3:20 relate to our Corinthians passage?
QUESTION 2: Is there someone you know who needs your encouragement to seek Christ? How could you do that?
QUESTION 3: Jesus longs to “appear” to you. Has there been such a time in your life?
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