The Death and Resurrection of Christ

By Bob Bunn

Scripture Reading: Matthew 27:32-50, Galatians 2:19-20, Luke 24:36-49, 1 Corinthians 15:12-22

The hero’s journey is a common element in most novels or movies. Storytellers use this tool to shape and move their narrative smoothly through its stages to a satisfying conclusion.

In general, the journey begins when the main character confronts a problem. From there, they must decide what to do about it. Accepting the challenge leads to a dark time of struggle where the character is tested and, often, a mentor provides insight. Finally, when all seems lost, the hero finds the solution and wins the day.

Often, we see the hero’s journey at work and don’t even realize it. For those of us from a certain generation, we cheered when Luke Skywalker blew up the Death Star. A younger generation had the same response when Harry defeated Voldemort. Another example would be Aslan freeing Narnia from the grip of the White Witch’s winter. In every case, the hero brings light out of the darkness and hope out of hopelessness.

Of course, the hero’s journey isn’t reserved for fantasy or science fiction. Every good story includes the struggle of the “good guys” in their battle against evil. As consumers, we want the heroes to win in the end, but we also want to experience the tension of their struggle as their mourning turns into dancing.

While Hollywood scriptwriters and the publishing industry’s top fiction authors lean into the hero’s journey, the Bible provides the true example of the world’s ultimate hero: Jesus. In reflecting on human history, the apostle Paul looks at two “heroes,” one who failed and one who completed the journey to perfection (1Corinthians 15:12–22).

In Eden, Adam faced a crisis that challenged his faith. But he and Eve failed at rejecting sin and embracing an absolute trust in God. As a result, they fell into sin and pulled the remainder of the human race into Satan’s moral cesspool with them.

Fast forward, as we see another who came to earth to reverse the curse. Jesus lived as a human, experienced all the pain and sufferings that mark our race, and faced His own challenge in the cross. The death of Christ represents the darkest day in human history. The injustice of condemning and crucifying the only perfect person who ever lived reset the bar for mourning and grief.

Yet the cross is not the end of the story. The empty tomb serves as the transition point where the hero of all humanity overcame the darkness and brought light to the world. The enemy was defeated, and victory was secured. Mourning was transformed into dancing.

Throughout our lives we all face a variety of challenges. Because Jesus lived, died, and rose again, we know that we are not alone in our struggles and suffering. And best of all, we know that the ultimate victory awaits those who invite the greatest hero into their stories and put their hope in Him.

Written by Bob Bunn