What is of First Importance?

by Timothy Teuscher

When it comes to our personal lives there are many things that are of first importance to us. To the one who is unemployed, what is of first importance is finding a good-paying job. For the person reaching the end of her working days, what is of first importance is getting all her finances in order for those retirement years. For the person lying on a hospital bed, what is of first importance is being restored to health. For the student, what is of first importance is graduating and finding a rewarding and well-paying career. For some, what is of first importance is their favourite hockey team winning the Stanley Cup. In short, to most people what is of first importance are those good things of God’s creation mentioned in the Small Catechism’s explanation of the First Article of the Creed: “clothing, food, drink, house, home, wife, children”; and in the Fourth Petition of the Lord’s Prayer: “devout and faithful rulers, good government, good weather, peace, health… good friends, faithful neighbours, and the like.”

So, too, when it comes to congregations: what is of first importance are often things like a variety of activities and programs for young and old alike; a well-maintained church building and facilities; worship services overflowing with people; so-called relevant and practical sermons; and, of course, a sizeable amount of cash on hand in our congregation’s bank account.   

St. Paul, however, says something quite different in one of our appointed readings for Easter Day: “For I delivered to you as of first importance what I received, that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures, that He was buried, that He was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures” (1 Corinthians 15:3-4). What is, or should be, of first importance to us? Just this: the message of the death and resurrection of our Lord, Jesus Christ.

What is, or should be, of first importance to us? Just this: the message of the death and resurrection of our Lord, Jesus Christ.

And why is this so? The apostle answers that simply and clearly in these words: “Christ was delivered up for our trespasses and raised for our justification” (Romans 4:25). Think about it: all your sins fully and completely paid for by the atoning death of Jesus on the cross… a life with God now and forever because of Jesus’ resurrection from the death… even your own resurrection from the grave on the Last Day. What could be more important than that?

Not only, of course, is this what Holy Week is about: Jesus’ death on the cross on Good Friday and His resurrection from the dead on Easter morning. But since this is “of first importance,” then every Lord’s Day, every time we gather together throughout the year, is, in effect, a mini-Good Friday and a little Easter morning. Every Lord’s Day the central message of the Scriptures is proclaimed again in word and song. Every Lord’s day when the risen Lord Jesus appears to us, just as He did to the disciples on that first Easter, and shows us His hands and His side in the holy Sacrament of His very body and blood. As St. Paul puts it earlier in First Corinthians: “I decided to know nothing among you except Jesus Christ and Him crucified” (1 Corinthians 2:2).

What is of first importance? Not the healing of our diseased bodies, but the healing of our diseased souls. Not the momentary joy of victory for our favourite hockey team, but the eternal joy of victory over death and the grave by our Lord Jesus Christ. Not good financial planning to secure our retirement years, but the sure and certain guarantee through Jesus’ death and resurrection that secures our eternal future. Not a job or career that enables us to make a lot of money and buy a home, but heavenly treasures and an eternal home with our Creator.Not spending Easter with family and friends around the dinner table, but receiving heavenly food and drink with the family of God at the Easter dinner that God Himself prepares and sets before us under the bread and wine of His Supper.  

“He who has no Good Friday and Easter has no good day throughout the year. On Good Friday, I still clearly see my sin, but on the day of Easter no sin is any longer to be seen.” So Martin Luther put it. And what could be more important than that?

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Rev. Dr. Timothy Teuscher is President of Lutheran Church–Canada.

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