The Resurrection and the Life
The phrase in the Apostle’s Creed “I believe in the Resurrection of the Body and the Life Everlasting” is a stumbling block for many people. But it is one of the basic tenets or doctrines of our faith.
St Paul has some interesting things to say about the resurrection of the body. Some of these passages are very well known because they are often used as the Readings at Funeral Services.
From St Paul’s First Letter to the Corinthians (15. 42) on ‘personal resurrection. “What is raised is imperishable. It is sown in dishonour; it is raised in glory. It is sown in weakness, it is raised in power. It is sown in a physical body; it is raised a spiritual body.” We know that the physical body eventually decays, but what is raised is imperishable.
St Paul also says, “We shall not all sleep, but we shall be changed in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye at the last trumpet.” This is rather a poetical way of saying things, a bit obscure, but he obviously believes that the transformation from death to resurrection, or when we pass over to the other side, will be instantaneous One person I know, a Priest, describes the passing from death to life as being like climbing over a small wall. We are on one side of the wall, and the Spirits who have passed on being on the other side. A poem by Robert browning expresses this idea:-
What is more relevant to our beliefs, St Paul says, “If there is no resurrection of the dead, Christ has not been raised. If Christ has not been raised, then our preaching is in vain.” And what is even more meaningful, “If for this life only we have hoped in Christ, we are of all people most to be pitied.”
The first members of the early Christian Church, and this included St Paul preached the importance of the Resurrection. And remember, they had been with Jesus and they had seen Jesus in his resurrection body after his death. They were convinced that the Resurrection of Christ was central to their faith and central to their witness and mission.
The fact that Jesus in his lifetime performed miracles of raising people who were dead to life, should have convinced people that here was the power of God in action; and with the Centurion who stood at the foot of the Cross, they should have been able to say, “Surely, this was the Son of God.”
There were three such raisings reported in the Gospels. That of the daughter of Jairus, the son of the widow of Nain, and Lazarus brought to life out of the tomb. But people tend to be sceptical, they tend to forget and they make excuses for what they cannot understand. They think there must be some reasonable explanation! One thing is for certain. The people most closely involved with those Jesus brought back to life, had been quite convinced that they were already dead.
Now Jesus understood human nature. He knew that dramatic exhibitions of supernatural power often have a temporary effect on people. He said to the Pharisees who asked him for signs, “Except you see signs and wonders, you will not believe.” He wanted to instil a reality of faith into people’s lives. That’s why he chose a band of disciples, of ordinary people, and lived with them, loved them and taught them. That’s why he died on the Cross, to be one with suffering humanity. It was so very different from what people had expected of the One who was to come, the Messiah. He wanted them to remember and to understand. If we were to spend our whole lives meditating on the meaning of the cross, we would never unveil all the depths of its meaning.
When Jesus performed his raising miracles, it was both an act of compassion and also that the glory of God might be revealed. On all those occasions his disciples were with him. It was for their learning and understanding, so that they might believe in him.
In the raising of Lazarus, the profound teaching of this sign is found in the dialogues with the sisters Martha and Mary, and especially in the climax of that with Martha, where Jesus , having led her to a deeper faith says those marvellous words to her: “I am the Resurrection and the Life; he who believes in me, ‘though he die, yet shall he live, and whoever lives and believes in me shall never die.” He reveals to her his life-seeking purpose. The N.T. way of linking our resurrection with Jesus’ resurrection makes clear that the Christian hope is not for a vague survival in a world of spirits, nor for a prolongation or repetition of this life, but for resurrection to a glorious fulfilled eternal life in relationship with Jesus Christ.
For those who believe in Jesus Christ, they already have a foretaste of the Resurrection life. They are already participating in the Resurrection life. It means a quality of life that is steadfast and secure, whatever may befall, and a sense of belonging.
Our Mother Church gives us this sense of belonging. Within the Church family we are cared for, taught and guided, and we enjoy the fellowship of like-minded people. It means a new life in Christ, a life of complete obedience to the Father’s will, as exemplified in the life of Christ.
Resurrection life is something which can be experienced here and now. It is a quality of life which results from ‘dying to self’, selfish desires and worldly aspirations, and living a Christ-like life for others. When ‘self’ is abdicated, Christ rules on the throne of our hearts. Those who are apart from Christ follow their own ways, their own heart’s desires. Following Christ we draw closer to God the Father and are fellow-workers with Christ in his creative and redemptive purposes for the world.
Can you see where new life is beginning in your own Church, and think how you might be able to encourage it.
Are we doing all we can to live the Risen Life in the place where we are, in the ordinary, everyday existence of our lives?
Prayer: “May we who share Christ’s body, live his risen life; we who drink his cup bring life to others; we whom the Spirit lights give light to the world. Keep us firm in the hope you have set before us, so we and all your children shall be free, and the whole earth live to praise your name.”