In last month’s column I spoke about the importance of the people of Israel. In response to such ideas, Christians sometimes say, “But that is not the Good News of Yeshua!”

Then what is the Good News of Yeshua?

In 1 Corinthians 15, Paul summarizes the Good News for us: Now I would remind you, brothers and sisters, in what terms I proclaimed to you the Good News…that Messiah 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, and that he appeared to Cephas, then to the twelve (1 Cor 15:1, 3–5).

Most popular treatments of the Good News focus on the first act that is “in accordance with the scriptures”—the death of the Messiah “for our sins.” However, Paul’s emphasis in 1 Corinthians 15 is on the last act that is “in accordance with the scriptures”— the resurrection of the Messiah on the third day. The rest of the chapter elaborates on the implications and importance of Yeshua’s resurrection, not on his death.