3/30- Declaring God’s Glory- the Deal is Sealed- 1 Corinthians 15:3-4

3/30- Declaring God’s Glory- the Deal is Sealed- 1 Corinthians 15:3-4

³ For what I received I passed on to you as of first importance: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, ⁴ that he was buried,that he was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures, (1 Corinthians 15:3,4)

Thoughts: It is curious in some ways that burial is included as an essential part of the work of Christ sandwiched between Christ's death or resurrection.  The burial makes the death of Jesus sure, certain, and real.  The burial is the closing of the door on the life and death of Christ.  It is similar to the sealing of the tomb.  When Lazarus died and was buried, it was certain that he was not faking or swooning his death.  In the Lazarus story the body had started to decompose- so the miracle of Lazarus's resurrection was that much more real.  So too the burial of Jesus assures us that Jesus did not revive coming off the cross.  Nor is it likely he hopped up with the grave clothes on and pushed the stone over himself.
     Another meaning is found in the phrase "buried with him in baptism" (Rom. 6:4; Col. 2:12). There is almost a mystical implication- just as we died with Christ (Galatians 2:20; Rom 6:8; Col. 2:20) we also are buried with him in baptism.  The burial certifies the death just as our baptism certifies our being born again.  As our sins were paid on the cross, our certification as God's own was given in burial. 

Prayer: Lord, thank you for dying and being buried for me.  

(Carl Henry Block Burial of Christ)