by Jeremy Weese, Pastor

We decided to re-post this encouraging article on resurrection as a follow-up to Rankin’s message on Easter (click here to listen). Now that we realize the significance of resurrection, what does that mean for us personally today – on a Wednesday afternoon at 4 pm?

“But in fact Christ has been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep.”

Resurrection. In this one word we find all the incredulity of Christianity’s claims, and yet all of its power. It is the one historical event which, if it is true, topples every other claim, and if it is not makes Christianity not just another religion, but absolutely worthless.

But in fact Christ has been raised from the dead… and we will be raised with Him.

Resurrection changes everything. I wish I had time and space enough to explore this in full, but here is a cliff notes version.

Resurrection changes how we see death. If resurrection is true, it means that death was never an intended part of creation. We weren’t made to die – we were meant to live forever. It means that death really is wrong, an invader, an unwelcome and intrusive guest. Death is not part of life; it is the exact opposite. It means that when we weep at death, it is the right and proper response.

Resurrection changes how we see life. It tells us life is a good thing. Which seems almost too simple to mention, until you find yourself overwhelmed by despair and life seems hopeless and meaningless. Resurrection is the promise that life really is good – no matter how tinged with death it has become. And it is the promise that our end is life; life forever. Death is no longer the last thing – it is the second to last thing.

Resurrection changes how we see ourselves. Resurrection is different than our souls living on after we die. Christianity does not teach the immortality of the soul apart from the body. It teaches about a resurrected Savior with a new and whole body. It teaches that we too will be resurrected with bodies – bodies that are whole, pain free, and don’t decay. And if that is true, it tells us something shocking: our bodies are good. Physicality is good. As C.S. Lewis writes: “It is no good trying to be more spiritual than God… God likes matter. He created it.” It means that we should take care of our bodies, in every way. It means we are built to enjoy our senses. It means the invigoration we feel after a run, the bliss we feel tasting a great meal… all of these are good and right.

Resurrection changes how we see other people. If life is good, if bodies are good, then we must care for people’s physical needs. It is no good trying to save someone’s soul apart from their body – God doesn’t work that way, and neither should we. Resurrection is the theological imperative behind our work in our city and across the world.

Resurrection changes how we see the world. God created the world and He said it was good. God is green. Sunsets are supposed to make us catch our breath. The night sky is meant to make us feel small and yet significant. This world, even though now it is tinged with death, is still stunningly beautiful. And one day it will be fully restored, just as we will. Resurrection is a defense of beauty as much as it is a proclamation of life.

Resurrection changes how we see our responsibilities. The great chapter on resurrection, 1 Corinthians 15, ends with this appeal: “Therefore, my beloved brothers and sisters, be steadfast… knowing that in the Lord your labor is not in vain.” What is the ‘therefore’ there for? Since resurrection is true, our work here – on this world, at this time – is never fruitless. At the same time, resurrection denies any attempt to place the ultimate responsibility of restoration in human hands. Resurrection is God’s work; it is transformation beyond our ability.

Resurrection changes how we see our past. If God can bring life out of death, then there is nothing and no one that cannot be redeemed. God doesn’t throw away what He has made – He fixes it, He restores it. That’s what resurrection means: bringing life out of death; faith out of doubt; courage out of fear. And that is our hope. No matter where we have been, no matter where we are right now. We are not so far down that Jesus is not willing to come to us; not so lost that Jesus will not find us; not so broken that Jesus will not restore us; not so sick that Jesus cannot heal us; not so dirty that Jesus cannot clean us.

Resurrection changes how we see our future. Often the picture of life after death is one of disembodied souls floating on clouds, playing harps. No wonder no one is in a hurry to get there. This leads many people to repeat this oft-heard phrase: “I want Jesus to return, but I want to ________ first.” Resurrection is the denial of all such qualifications; it is the affirmation that just as God will make our bodies glorious, so too will He make life itself too marvelous for words.

Finally, resurrection changes the way we see God. What is God’s mission? What is He about? Resurrection! From Genesis 3 onward, God has been working to restore life to the world, to fix what is broken, to reform and renew the shattered pieces of His world and His people whom He loves. Jesus’ resurrection is the firstfruits. Paul says, Jesus is the firstborn of many brothers and sisters. What does that mean?

There will be more.

Resurrection. It is the first stone in an avalanche of life. It is the turning of the tide in the sea of death. It is the torch that sets the world on fire. It is our one hope, our one assurance, our one destination, and the driving force that sends us out.

Jesus who died lives again, and we will be raised with Him.

Resurrection. It changes everything.

“The gospel is the announcement that in one person’s history death is no longer the [last thing], but was only the second to last thing. It has now become past history. Death lies behind Jesus, qualifying him to lead the procession from death unto new life…

“It means that the salvation we enjoy now is like borrowing from the future, living now as though our future could already be practiced in the present, because of our union with the risen Christ through faith and hope.”

Carl Braaten, On the Uniqueness and Universality of Jesus Christ.

“Now if Christ is proclaimed as raised from the dead, how can some of you say that there is no resurrection of the dead? But if there is no resurrection of the dead, then not even Christ has been raised. And if Christ has not been raised, then our preaching is in vain and your faith is in vain. We are even found to be misrepresenting God, because we testified about God that he raised Christ, whom he did not raise if it is true that the dead are not raised.

“For if the dead are not raised, not even Christ has been raised. And if Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile and you are still in your sins. Then those also who have fallen asleep in Christ have perished. If in Christ we have hope in this life only, we are of all people most to be pitied.

“But in fact Christ has been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep.”

Paul, Letter to the Saints at Corinth (1)

Scripture Memory for This Wednesday

Isaiah 1:17 Learn to do good; seek justice, correct oppression; bring justice to the fatherless, plead the widow’s cause.

Selected by Gloria Kim, Special Projects Coordinator, Hope for LA. Her thoughts:
“Injustice is something that I’m passionate about – a fire in me given by God, I believe. This passage reminds me that God also cares passionately about injustice and that I’m supposed to help right it. Taking care of those that the world does not care for or even abuses is what God wants us to do. When Jeremy preached on Isaiah 1 recently, he said of this passage: God’s people were doing the ‘right’ religious things at church but outside of church, they extended injustice in their lives by what they did or did not do. The poor were uncared for and trampled on. God thinks this is a charade.”

Click here to learn more about our scripture memory challenge.