What Scripture Indeed?

I told you the most important part of the message exactly as it was told to me.  That part is: CHRIST died for our sins, as the Scriptures say.  HE was buried, and three days later HE was raised to life, as the Scriptures say.  CHRIST appeared to Peter, then to the twelve.  After this, HE appeared to more than five hundred followers.  Most of them are still alive, but some have died.  HE also appeared to James and then to all of the apostles.  I Corinthians 15:3-7 CEV

Pop quiz: What “as the Scriptures say” is Paul talking about?  What scriptures?  A. New Testament B. Old Testament.  Hint: The New Testament was still a bunch of letters being passed around.  Ah, then the answer is the Old Testament.

But wait, I thought the Old Testament didn’t have a fully developed theme of life after death?  I’ve always been told the full understanding came with the New Testament.  But Paul says as the Scriptures say.  Does that mean the ones who understood the Old Testament knew we would have a Messiah come, die for us, and rise again?  Really?  Paul seems to think so.

Maybe, just maybe, these Jews of old knew a little more than we give them credit for.  After all, they had to learn the first five books by rote memory.  Us?  Well, I have several commentaries I can read instead.

What scripture indeed… maybe I need to look to them more.  And let the scripture do surgery on my heart of stone.

 
LORD thank you for YOUR WORD, for it is alive and active.  It is sharper than any double-edged sword.  Thank YOU for YOUR WORD which can cut through our spirits and souls and through our joints and marrow.  We thank YOU for ITS discoveries of the desires and thoughts of our hearts.  And we pray those discoveries will lead us back to YOU.