I was asked to write a commentary on 1 Corinthians 15:1-11 for this week's Set Table Young Messianic Shabbat Table Guide. Here it is:

In the 15^th chapter of 1 Corinthians, Sha’ul moves from his discussion on an important, if somewhat controversial, topic—the gifts of the Spirit—to a discussion on the resurrection of Yeshua. In some ways it is curious that Sha’ul decides to focus on this element of our belief instead of on the death of Yeshua. After all, at the beginning of this same letter he places the death of Yeshua as his main proclamation (1:23) and as his main focus (2:2). Now we see Sha’ul writing an extended section on the resurrection of Yeshua, not on His death. Why?

The resurrection of Yeshua is the fulcrum upon which our faith balances; it is the actual “good news” that we are so happy about (15:1). Yes, Yeshua died to provide atonement for sins, but the resurrection shows the power of G-d over death. Yeshua’s resurrection is the sign that G-d’s desire to redeem mankind is not limited to the realm of the ordinary, but is definitely within the realm of the extraordinary.

“Yeshua’s death to provide atonement is ordinary!?!?” you say incredulously. In a sense, yes, according to Jewish thought. Chazal (our sages) discussed at some length that the death of a tzaddik could provide atonement. For instance, in b. Moed Katan 28a we read:

‏א"ר אמי למה נסמכה מיתת מרים לפרשת פרה אדומה לומר לך מה פרה אדומה מכפרת אף מיתתן של צדיקים מכפרת א"ר אלעזר למה נסמכה מיתת אהרן לבגדי כהונה מה בגדי כהונה מכפרין אף מיתתן של צדיקים מכפרת‎

R. Ammi said: Wherefore is the account of Miriam’s death placed next to the [laws of the] red heifer? To inform you that even as the red heifer afforded atonement [by the ritual use of its ashes], so does the death of the righteous afford atonement. R. Eleazar said, Wherefore is [the account of] Aaron’s death closely followed by [the account of the disposal of] the priestly vestments? [To inform you] that just as the priest's vestments were to effect atonement, so is the death of the righteous atonement.

The resurrection of Yeshua is more important than his death. Not only did the Tzaddik die to provide atonement, He also rose after three days as the firstfruits of our own future resurrection and the redemption of the world (15:20-24).

Sha’ul makes another point in our reading that is very important. Not only did the Messiah rise from the dead, he appeared to the leaders of the community and even to as many as 500 people before he ascended into heaven. These men staked their futures and their lives on the fact that they saw Yeshua alive, that the resurrection really had happened. In verses 14 and 15, Sha’ul sums up the gravity of this decision:

... and if the Messiah has not been raised, then what we have proclaimed is in vain; also your trust is in vain; furthermore, we are shown up as false witnesses for God in having testified that God raised up the Messiah...

Our faith is not built on a wobbly foundation. It is built on the true and faithful witness of those men. In the same way, we should stand as faithful witnesses of this same Besorah, of the resurrection of our Messiah, for the generations who will come after us.

Labels: Messianic Judaism