TOPIC:“The Hope That Causes Us To Sing”
by Rev. Dr. Reg Dunlap
TEXT:I Peter 1:1-7
“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who, according to His
abundant mercy, has begotten us again unto a living hope by the resurrection of
Jesus Christ from the dead” (I Peter 1:3)
The resurrection of Jesus Christ is the cornerstone of the Christian faith and the crowning incident in the life of Jesus. The very foundation of Christianity stands or falls with the resurrection of Christ. Not only that, but it was the one single event that literally transformed those early disciples from a bunch of fearful workers into a company of courageous witnesses. Their hopes were dead but became alive with the news of Christ's resurrection.
After the death of Christ these followers of Jesus were disillusioned, defeated and discouraged. They were ready to throw in the towel. Their despair caused them to desert Christ and go back to their fishing. But once they heard of His being raised from the dead they became dynamic, dedicated and disciplined. Mary the mourner became a missionary. Peter the liar became a leader. Thomas the doubter became a declarer. Paul the persecutor became a preacher. You can scarcely believe the change that came over them.
The truth of the resurrection inspired boldness in their testimony and gave courage to their witness. From fearful they became fearless. Persecution could not silence them. We read of them: “Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John…they marveled” (Acts 4:13). “The Lord is risen!” now became their thrilling testimony. I ask: How do you explain this dramatic transformation and dynamic change in this group of defeated disciples? What gave them the courage to be beaten, persecuted, and eventually, put to death for their faith? What gave Paul and Silas such hope that caused them as prisoners at Philippi to sing praises unto God at midnight?
It was their belief not in an idea, but their belief in the fact that Christ was truthfully alive. These eye witnesses testify to the actuality, the reality, and the absolute certainty of the physical resurrection of Jesus from the dead. They saw Christ, touched Him, walked with Him, talked to Him, and ate with Him. We can confirm that on at least ten different occasions while on earth the living Christ visibly presented Himself to human eyes and was personally touched by human hands.
From that moment on the Christian Church has had a song of hope to sing for the world to hear. Their song had a dual message - “Christ crucified and Christ resurrected.” So the crushing hope of those early disciples came to life by the conquering . . .