It is Assumed

Scripture Reading: Judges 9-10; Luke 14; Psalm 94

Today, Christians around the world are celebrating the Resurrection. Naturally, I considered tying this morning’s devotional directly to that central event. But as I looked at our assigned Scriptures—Judges 9–10, Luke 14, and Psalm 94—none of them explicitly reference Christ’s resurrection.

And yet, as I read through Luke 14 again, I realized something: the resurrection is assumed. It’s the quiet backdrop to much of what Scripture says. The Bible has a forward-looking posture. It views life through the lens of eternity, not just time. It’s not about “your best life now”—at least not in the way we often mean that phrase. The best life now, according to Scripture, is the one lived in light of the eternal kingdom.

Take Luke 14:12–24 as an example. In this parable, those who reject the invitation to the great banquet—the image of the eternal kingdom—are the ones who are preoccupied with this present life. They have land to inspect, oxen to test, and marriages to attend to. They’re living for now, not forever. Their excuses are grounded in the temporary, and they miss the eternal.

But underlying all of this is the resurrection. Because if there is no resurrection, then it makes perfect sense to live only for the moment. If this life is all there is, then why not focus on comfort, property, and relationships here and now?

This is why the Resurrection of Christ is central to the Christian faith. As Paul argues in 1 Corinthians 15, if Christ has not been raised, then our faith is futile and we are still in our sins. If Jesus didn’t rise, then none of the rest matters.

So when you read the Bible, read it with this understanding: the resurrection isn’t always spelled out, but it’s always assumed. The entire message of Scripture hinges on it. And what makes our future resurrection a promise filled with hope is His resurrection.

If Christ has not been raised, we are without hope beyond the grave.

But…

He is risen.