This Changes Everything 改变了一切

[Dexu Xia]

Christ has indeed been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep.  1 Corinthians 15:20

Jaroslav Pelikan, longtime Yale professor considered one of “his generation’s preeminent authorities on Christian history,” was renowned for his extensive academic career. He published more than thirty books and won the esteemed Kluge Prize as a lifetime award for his voluminous writing. One of his students, however, recounted what he considered his teacher’s most important words, spoken from his deathbed: “If Christ is risen, nothing else matters. And if Christ is not—nothing else matters.”

Pelikan echoed Paul’s conviction: “If Christ has not been raised, our preaching is useless and so is your faith” (1 Corinthians 15:14). The apostle made such a bold statement because he knew that the resurrection was not merely a one-off miracle but rather the pinnacle of God’s redeeming work in human history. The promise of resurrection wasn’t only His assurance that Jesus would rise from the dead but His bold affirmation that other dead and ruined things (lives, neighborhoods, relationships) would also one day be brought back to life through Christ. If there’s no resurrection, however, Paul knew that we’re in deep trouble. If there’s no resurrection, then death and destruction win.

But, of course, “Christ has indeed been raised from the dead” (v. 20). Destroyed by the Victor, death loses. And Jesus is the “firstfruits” of all the life that will follow. He conquered evil and death so that we could live bold and free. This changes everything.

What difference does it make to understand the expansive hope of Jesus’ resurrection? Where do you need resurrection in your life?

Dear God, allow me to see how Jesus’ resurrection changes everything about my life now and forever.

 但基督已经从死里复活，成为睡了之人初熟的果子。—哥林多前书15章20节

耶鲁大学的常任教授雅罗斯拉夫 · 帕利坎（Jaroslav Pelikan），以其卓越的学术贡献著称，被各界视为研究基督教历史的当代权威之一。他出版了30多本书，并因他丰富的著作而获得备受尊崇的克鲁格终身成就奖（Kluge Prize）。有一位学生回想帕利坎教授在临终前所说的话，他认为最重要的是这一段话：“若基督复活，其他的事都不重要了；若基督没有复活，其他的事也都不重要了。”

帕利坎呼应了保罗的信念：“若基督没有复活，我们所传的便是枉然，你们所信的也是枉然！”（哥林多前书15章14节）使徒保罗做出如此大胆的声明，是因他知道复活并不仅是一次性的神迹，且是上帝在人类历史上救赎工作的巅峰。他相信那复活的应许，并不仅止于耶稣从死里复活，他还大胆地保证，其他已死的和遭受毁坏的（生命、社区、人际关系），有一日都会藉着基督而恢复生机。保罗知道，若没有复活，我们就深陷困境；若没有复活，死亡跟毁灭就得胜了。

然而，无庸置疑地，“基督已经从死里复活”，这位得胜者已击败死亡，并成为将来复活者“初熟的果子”（20节）。耶稣已经战胜了邪恶与死亡，所以我们能过坦然无惧的生活。祂的复活改变了一切。

耶稣复活的盼望会带来深远的影响，
这对你有何意义？
你生命中的哪个层面需要经历这复活的大能？

爱我们的上帝，求祢让我能清楚看见，
耶稣的复活如何改变了
我现今和永远的生命。