Two Texas cattle ranchers were at their favorite bar bragging about their ranches. The first said, "I have 2,000 acres of land and run several hundred head of cattle! Maybe you've heard of it — the Flying W Ranch?" The second replied, "My ranch is over 20,000 acres. It's called the Horseshoe Bend Triple Z Texas Rose Cripple Creek Justice P Ranch!" "Wow!" exclaimed the other rancher. "You must run several thousand head of cattle!" The other replied, "Not really. Very few cattle survive the branding!"
Some might say the same about Christianity today. We've made it hard to understand, much less to experience. The antidote is the simple Gospel — the Good News — of Jesus Christ. Paul describes this Gospel with three simple truths:
First, Jesus died for our sins. Paul writes, "I passed on to you what was most important and what had also been passed on to me. Christ died for our sins, just as the Scriptures said" (1 Corinthians 15:3). When Jesus died on the cross, He died for you and me — and every person on the planet. Jesus died for our sins, taking on Himself the full punishment that we deserved. He is "the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!" (John 1:29).
Second, Jesus rose from the dead. "He was buried, and He was raised from the dead on the third day, just as the Scriptures said" (1 Corinthians 15:4). When Jesus died, He was taken down from the cross and put in a tomb sealed with a large boulder. Pilate stationed Roman guards at the entrance to prevent theft of the body. On the third day, the earth quaked. The guards fainted from fear as dead men. An angel opened the tomb, not so Jesus could get out, but to let the disciples in to see that His body was no longer there. Jesus rose from the dead, just as He promised. No one can say, "Come see the resting place where Jesus is buried!" He lives! Two different sites in Jerusalem are claimed to be the original tomb where Jesus was buried. No one is sure which one is the actual tomb. Here's the good news: They're both empty. Jesus is alive!
Third, because Jesus lives — you're going to live. "Death is swallowed up in victory … O death, where is your sting … But thank God! He gives us victory over sin and death through our Lord Jesus Christ" (1 Corinthians 15:54-57). Jesus died for our sins. He rose from the grave and conquered death. And now, because He lives, we can live as well. The moment we say "Yes!" to Jesus Christ, we begin a new life in Him that lasts forever. (An old country preacher put it this way: "It's not just 'pie in the sky,' but 'ham where you am!'") Eternal life is not just heaven when we die. Eternal life includes life in and with Jesus Christ now — in the good times, as well as through the harsh storms of life. In life and in death — we are eternally His.
Now that's Good News worth living for — and sharing!
The Rev. William Thomas is pastor at Hereford United Methodist Church. He can be reached at pastor@herefordumc.org.
