Resurrection…Life after Death

I love history. One of the things that I enjoy about history is reading or hearing how other events have come to impact society. For example, I know that I benefit from certain sacrifices made by people around me. The 1960’s provide a historical account of people making history by marching on the streets of Southern cities calling for the civil rights for African Americans. Some sat at segregated lunch counters, drank from “White’s only” water fountains and others prayed and preached against the system of oppression.  The sacrifice of a few brought about a change in life for many.  What about the resurrection of Jesus Christ and His single sacrifice outside of Jerusalem at the “Place of the Skull”? (Romans 5:17, Mark 15:22)

I look forward to the “…new Jerusalem” to be revealed in the eschaton.[1] (Revelation 21: 2-4) The biblical text provides a peak into the quality of life that will exist for the redeemed in this yet future place, “He will wipe every tear from their eyes.”  There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.”  In Paul’s letter to the believers at Corinth, he makes references to victory over evil. (1 Corinthians 15:20-28) In that passage, we read about the subjugation of all things under Christ, who is the risen and victorious One. I am assured that the resurrection of Jesus Christ has implications for our everyday world. His resurrection is especially pivotal for the downtrodden and burdened. The resurrection of Jesus Christ ensures hope beyond despair. The”…new Jerusalem“of Revelation 21 is a picture of community fully embracing the victory of Christ over the grave.  It is crucial for those that know Christ to always consider the sequence of the events of Good Friday through Easter Sunday.  The message of the possibility of life after death explodes with hope for those familiar with death and dying. We could take a reductionist view of hope and minimize it to a slogan, a conference title, or the theme of a march. If we intellectually dismiss the resurrection of Christ then we minimize hope and we are therefore pitiful. Our hope must be wrapped up in the person of Jesus Christ. The implications of the cross are irrefutable

The Apostle Paul has a few carefully placed rhetorical questions for those who are teetering on doubting the possibility of a resurrection.  In 1 Corinthians 15:12 he says, “But it is preached that Christ has been raised from the dead, how can some of you say that there is no resurrection of the dead?”  Additionally, in verse 32  of that same chapter he says, “If I fought wild beasts in Ephesus for merely human reasons, what have I gained?” If there is no resurrection of the dead, then the call to make disciples, the preaching of the good news and its suffering and the future hope are all made invalid.  Without the resurrection our faith, the message of hope through the gospel of Jesus Christ is dead on arrival. The resurrection of Jesus Christ stands as a transformative event in human history. His act of conquering sin and death by exiting the grave into life authenticates the message that lives, families and communities can change.

Although the future hope of eternity is on the minds of those who know Christ, the calling is to take and to be good news in whatever context you find yourself.[2]  In Christendom, we sometimes neglect reaching our world because we are so focused on personal piety.[3] Those that know Christ must know that His death, burial and resurrection have destroyed the power of sin. (1 Corinthians 15:56) We look forward to sin and death finally being done away with. Currently, we enjoy the blessings of freedom in Christ, this should lead us to communicate resurrection to dead communities. His finished work on the cross ensures that sin and death will ultimately be destroyed. (Colossians 2:15; Hebrews 2:14-15) Although our Lord is risen and seated in glory, we still live in communities where hunger is an everyday occurrence, poor schools abounds, single parents still scrap to survive and injustice is a common reality. (Hebrews 4:14-15)  These communal ills were kicked off with the curse and continue because humanity continues to choose to operate in conflict with the Creator. If we are assured of His shed blood and His resurrection power [4], we are obligated to communicate life beyond death. The life after death reality can show up in communities oppressed with violence, misplaced affections and pervasive blight. Those that know Christ must convey through words and deeds that life after death is indeed possible because He lives.

It seems incumbent on Christians to infuse into their everyday dealings the death-to-life motif. (Philippians 2:5-11)  We often times see sin and its results within our context. Many will simply sound a call to go back to the way things used to be in the ‘good ole days’. When we repeat this tired mantra we unsuspectingly neglect the opportunity through Christ to move forward. Considering the sequence of this Holy Weekend, the gospel calls us to move forward into Saturday, confident that our hope is near.  Day three represents a hope of new life and a New Jerusalem where Friday’s work comes full circle. The good news is displayed when we replicate the ministry of Christ as outlined in Luke 4:18-21 in our various surroundings. (2 Corinthians 5:20)  The New Jerusalem of the Apostle John’s Patmos vision is yet future. If you are like me then you find yourself anticipating future glory but yet keeping in mind that we are not released from our present duties here on earth.