First Among ManyWesley Wright
Lighthouse Bible ChurchSunday, April 5, 2026
Title: First among many1Co 15:12-20
Everything for us is centered around the resurrection of Jesus Christ. If he did not rise from the grave, we would then be a pitiful group. Praise God that He did in fact rise from the dead!
Today we’ll discuss what Jesus said about His resurrection, what men confirmed once He rose, and its significance relative to all others who rose from the dead.
During his public ministry, Jesus Christ made it clear not only that He would die, but also that He would rise from the dead. He would resurrect, in other words.
Jesus Christ preached that He would rise from the dead, and He did just that: Mat 26:30-35
Jesus Christ preached that He would rise from the dead, and He did just that: Joh 2:18-25; Joh 11:17-24
Some passages say the Jesus Christ rose the dead, others that His Father raised Him up. Which is it? Act 13:26-33; 2Co 4:11-14; Heb 13:20-21
Jesus Christ did in fact raise up Himself from the dead, but He did so with power that His Father gave him: Mat 28:11-20
Remember that the Sadducees did not believe in the resurrection. The vast majority of people don’t either, which is pitiful. Mat 22:23-34; Act 23:1-8
Outside of the testimony Jesus Christ gave, many alive after his resurrection confirmed that it was He who rose from the dead. Act 4:23-33, Act 26:19-23
Many alive after his resurrection confirmed that it was He who rose from the dead. 2Co 5:13-15; Gal 1:1-5; 1Pe 1:18-24
Christ is not the first to rise from the dead, but He is the Firstborn of the dead.
The Greek word prÅtotokos denotes not first in literal order, but instead first in prominence and preeminence and significance. Rom 8:28-30; Col 1:15-20
During his life, Jesus Christ raised people from the dead: Luk 8:49-56; Joh 11:31-44
Because He rose, we will rise. His resurrection guarantees our own. Rom 4:19-25, Rom 6:1-10
Because He rose, we will rise. His resurrection guarantees our own. 1Co 15:20-22; Eph 2:4-7; Col 2:8-14
Remember the upward call of God, which we believers have, and how it’s wrapped up in His Son: Phi 3:8-14
Jesus Christ said He would rise from the dead, then He did, and many suffered + died attesting to the fact that He did so. That resurrection is central for us, and without it, we have no hope.
Jesus Christ was not the first to rise from the dead, but He is the Firstborn of the dead. He is preeminent, and Because He rose from the dead, we will rise in due time. He’s the First among many.
Paul wrote that we believers would be pitiful if the resurrection of Christ had not taken place. Pray earnestly for those whom we should pity, those have not yet believed the gospel of this same Christ.
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