The Baby in the Manger #24: the Resurrection

The Resurrection (grk: anastasis)



‘I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in me will live, even though they die; and whoever lives by believing in me will never die. John 11:25-26

Our penultimate title for Jesus looks forward to the day when he will return, and we will be raised from death.  Jesus says: I am the resurrection and the life.  

Why does Jesus say I am the resurrection (rather than, for example I will bring about the resurrection, or something similar)?  Paul's discussion of the resurrection in 1 Corinthians 15 helps to express the answer to this question:

But Christ has indeed been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep. For since death came through a man, the resurrection of the dead comes also through a man. For as in Adam all die, so in Christ all will be made alive. But each in turn: Christ, the firstfruits; then, when he comes, those who belong to him. Then the end will come, when he hands over the kingdom to God the Father after he has destroyed all dominion, authority and power. (1 Corinthians 15:20-24).

Jesus is the resurrection, because it is his his very resurrection we partake in.  When he defeated death, he opened the way to eternal life, by being raised as the 'firstfruits' himself.  We follow in his footsteps.

But that is somewhat academic and theoretical.  It makes sense, but in many ways we can never really wrap our heads around it!   Neither can we really, this side of eternity, understand what our 'resurrection bodies' will really be like.  We our bound in our understanding by this limitations of this life - and that's fine.  Because there are things we can know, and understand, and that makes all the difference.

We have the hope of the resurrection, because Jesus was raised from the dead

The tomb was empty.  Jesus was not there - he was raised from the dead!  He appeared to countless disciples, before being taken up into Heaven before their very eyes (e.g. Acts 1:1-11).  I know Christians who entire coming to faith pivoted on the historical fact of the Resurrection of Jesus.  When Jesus told his friend Martha I am the resurrection in John 11, he was pointing to a time when Martha's faith would be based on the fact that she would have seen him raised to life.  The resuscitation of her 4-days-dead brother Lazarus first was only a foretaste.

Everything 'wrong' and 'weak' about our mortal bodies will be made perfect in our resurrection bodies

Paul writes to the Corinthians:  The body that is sown is perishable, it is raised imperishable; it is sown in dishonour, it is raised in glory; it is sown in weakness, it is raised in power; it is sown a natural body, it is raised a spiritual body (1 Corinthians 15:42-43).  No longer will we have to put up with the pain and frustration of living in our fallen bodies, which so often fight against our attempts to live in step with God's way - morally or otherwise.

But there's more than that.  Not only will all our pain and weakness be mended, but, like a piece of Kintsugi pottery, I believe the scars of our weakness will be in themselves glorified.  When the risen, resurrected Jesus appeared to his disciples, the scars on his hands, feet and sides were clearly visible (John 20:27), and in Revelation 5 he is depicted, gloriously, as a lamb that has been slain.  And Paul writes to the Corinthians, and to us: For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all (2 Corinthians 4:17).

No one can possibly answer questions like what age will we be?, and how will we recognise each other?  Our bodies will be different but with continuity, and no one this side of eternity can say what that will look like!  But as we 'groan' (2 Corinthians 5:2-4) in these current bodies, we can eagerly await ones that will be free from pain and sin and death, and yet fully and beautifully us. 

The hope of the resurrection changes life now.

I've lost count of the number of people who I've met or heard who think that 'religious' people are just 'good' because of the promise of a 'reward' in Heaven.  It's not like that.  Look, you don't have to believe in eternal life in order to belief that it it 'worth it' to 'do some good' in the world - the lives of so many are testament to that, giving of themselves for the good of others.

But amongst all the 'doing good' there is, in our secular society, a moral imperative to 'live your best life'.  It runs much deeper than the social media feeds and is more than just accumulating wealth or status.  It is about putting yourself first because you only have one chance, and because no one else will, and grasping from life the things that you want most - whatever they are.  Paul puts it in it's most trivial form when writing to the Corinthians:

If the dead are not raised,
‘Let us eat and drink,
for tomorrow we die.’

(1 Corinthians 15:32).

But what about when living God's way means dying to self - to the things we want most in this world: the Christian who chooses a life of celibacy, those who give up comfortable lifestyle to carry out Gospel work, or those who even face persecution and the danger of death for their faith?  Paul writes:  If only for this life we have hope in Christ, we are of all people most to be pitied. (1 Corinthians 15:19).

The hope of a better life in eternity makes sacrifices in this one make sense.  Those sacrifices themselves don't 'earn' us a place in Heaven: they are sacrifices because living God's way in a universe that is in rebellion against him feels uncomfortable and painful - whether it's people's opinion, social and economic structures, our own bodies, or just our own selfish desires that we're at odds with.

And that's just those who choose a certain path. Many have no choice: the baby lost before it was born, whose mother knows she's with Jesus.  The local Christian youngster who lost his life recently - whose family and friends live in hope amidst their grief.  Or the end of a long life but one lived in obscurity, without love, or the fulfilling of human potential - a life that many would say was not a 'full' one.  All these lives are no longer wasted, no longer lost, but await the resurrection, when their brokenness will be raised in glory.

So be at peace - with the Prince of Peace - who is the hope of the resurrection itself.  You don't have to live your best life now.  Walk with him, and the best is yet to come.