No Bones About It

Five years later, he said his winning was a curse. He faced divorce; his granddaughter confessed all she cared about was drugs. He was arrested for DWI and assault charges were filed against him. Worst of all, Whittaker's granddaughter Braggs was found wrapped in a plastic sheet and dumped behind a junked van. Whittaker believes the Powerball win came with a curse upon his family.

Jack said, "I don't know where it'll end; but you know, I just don't like Jack Whittaker. I don't like the hard heart I've got. I don't like what I've become."

If Christ is not raised, life is most miserable; and we, above all others, are in need of compassion to go through suffering, affliction and persecution to which Christians are exposed. To undergo such affliction for false cause would be pathetic indeed. The pagan is right that the cross is foolish.

But Now Christ Is Raised from the Dead

Paul repressed his emotions and laid out his logical argument. He pierced the conscience of the Corinthian congregations with his elaborate defense of the resurrection of Jesus Christ. Like a trumpet blast, he made this solid declaration: "But now, Christ is raised from the dead." He pointed out that Christ had been seen by the apostle, the graves of believers were opened and they were walking the streets as witness to the resurrection, and more than 500 eyewitnesses proclaimed Christ had risen. He has walked the streets and fellowshipped with His redeemed believers.

Moreover, he has tasted of the first fruits of the resurrection. Others had been raised from the dead, but their resurrections were from the hand of Christ Himself. Jairus' daughter was raised by the hand of Christ (Mark 5:21-43). He stopped the funeral procession in the town of Nain as the widow's son was being taken to the cemetery (Luke 7:11-17). With His voice, Christ commanded death to release His friend Lazarus from the grave (John 11:43). Still, Christ's resurrection was the result of His power. He tasted the first fruits.

Farmers go to the field before the reapers. Only after the husbandman takes the ripe vegetation in his hands, crushes it and takes it to his mouth to taste its ripeness does he call for the reapers to come for the ripe and ready harvest.

We as the redeemed of the Lord also will taste of Christ's resurrection. Not merely a spiritual resurrection, no, we shall participate in a physical resurrection. Our mortal bodies will be dressed in immortality, and we shall be just like Him—no bones about it!