I find that Christians, except for Easter Sunday, often forget the resurrection and focus on the cross. Even passion plays make a big deal about the crucifixion and then have the resurrection as a tag on. The basic idea is that everything that matters takes place at the cross and then we have the resurrection as a way of making the story end on a less depressing note.
What does the Bible say? When Paul went to Athens, the crowd thought he was preaching about two gods, Jesus and Anastatis (resurrection), because the resurrection was so prominent in his preaching. When you go through Paul’ letters, we often see Paul preaching the resurrection and not even mentioning the cross.
What about 1 Corinthians 2:2 where Paul says he only wants to know Christ crucified? That would seem to say that the crucifixion is much more important than the resurrection. In context, Paul is not comparing the crucifixion and resurrection. Rather he is contrasting God’s wisdom where victory comes from weakness with worldly wisdom that where victory comes from strength.
Am I saying that the cross is not important? Not at all. Atonement took place on the cross. But there was nothing supernatural about someone dying on a cross. It happened all the time. A resurrection was much more supernatural. In fact it was the resurrection that reveals to us the real meaning of the cross.
So when you share your faith next, don’t stop at the cross. Give them the full Gospel that includes the empty tomb.
- crucifixion
- Resurrection
- Resurrection of Jesus
