Resurrection Reckoning

We were thinking this morning about the implications of the resurrection, as we saw Jesus prove and stress his physical resurrection from the dead proving beyond doubt that he was the Messiah and the risen Saviour.  Here are some of those implications fleshed out a bit more:

1. Death is defeated.  We live in a society which is afraid of death, that hides it away, that doesn't speak of it that views it as the ultimate injustice.  But Jesus resurrection proves that he has defeated death itself and sin.

2. Death doesn't end our hopes.  We know that death is not the end so we are not terrified of death itself.  We don't live aware of the clock ticking in the background.  It means we can face death differently, we can face terminal illness differently and we can grieve distinctively - without hope as opposed to without it.

3. Living differently now.  The world adopts the mantra Paul describes 'We eat and and drink because tomorrow we die'.  The world pursues experience, relationships, anything it can get its hands on now because death means we won't be able to enjoy to have those things.  So we must cram everything into now, everything else must serve the ultimate aim of enjoying those things while I can.  But Jesus resurrection changes that for the disciple.  Death is not the end just the means of ushering us into our Father's presence, and one day we will enjoy the new physical creation perfected and perfectly in relationship with God.  All the things the world strives so desperately to cram in now we will have all eternity to experience perfectly. 

That liberates us from pursuing those things so single mindedly now.  In liberates us to build the kingdom now rather than pursuing these things the world says we must have or experience before we die.  That has to effect how we spend our money, how we give our time and our effort.  It liberates us to be lavish in kingdom living now.  We no longer spend our money to have the things the world says we must have, our spending goals reflect our kingdom perspective.  The same goes for our time and effort.

4. The physical world is good.  Sometimes we can give the impression that the spiritual is good and the physical bad the physical resurrection utterly repudiates this, Jesus is resurrected physically, his body can be touched and felt and can eat - yet it is transformed so that it is fitted to be in God's presence.  Our future is a physically resurrected body.    In Gen 1 the world God makes reflects his glory and is physical, the future when God recreates is physical and Jesus resurrection is physical.  the physical world is not sinful because it is physical, it is sinful because of sin.  We are to live joyfully for God's glory physically, actively, redeeming the time God has given us and mediating his rule and gospel now as we make Jesus known.

In Time

I sat and watched the film 'In Time' on Tuesday night, it's an OK film based on a very clever premise.  The premise is that money has been replaced by time as the new currency, everybody is given a timer in their arm and once they are 25 their timer starts.  Initially they have one year to live, though they can add time through work, or by borrowing time at interest, by inheritance or even theft of time from others.  Medical science has also meant that people don't age any more once they are 25, no matter how old they get.

The film isn't brilliantly executed though it does make you think about some of societies preoccupations:

Our fear of death - the greatest driver in the movie is the fear of death.  People work, steal, cheat, etc all so that they can have more time, so that they can live.  Some (the wealthy) deliberate perpetuate the system because for the few to be immortal many will have to die.  Others are so afraid of dying before they have used up their hard won time that they avoid anything that may be viewed as potentially risky but in the process never really live.

Our obsession with looking young - the idea that you stay how you looked at 25 brilliantly reveals our societies rejection of ageing and love of youth and looking young.  Though in the film it makes it impossible to know anyone, or even to guess if someone is someones grandmother, mum, wife or daughter, a very clever and thought provoking idea.

Whilst not a brilliantly executed film it is an interesting watch and one which reveals our societies fear of death and obsession with overcoming it.  It is fascinating having watched it as I prepared to preach Luke 24v36-53 this week where we see Jesus resurrection body and the hope it brings for his followers - death is conquered for them and resurrection is assured by Jesus and it liberates them and us to really live, risking all to tell others the great news that death has been defeated and sin overcome by Jesus the suffering, risen, reigning Messiah.

Proving or disproving the resurrection

I guess we sometimes feel pressured to prove the resurrection to sceptical friends and family. This is a great quote from Tim Keller's book The Reason for God:

“Most people think that, when it comes to Jesus resurrection, the burden of proof is on believers to give evidence that it happened. That is not completely the case. The resurrection also puts the burden of proof on its unbelievers. It is not enough to simply believe Jesus did not rise from the dead. You must then come up with a historically feasible alternative explanation for the birth of the church…” (pg 202)

The resurrection

Last night at the last Simply Christianity session we were thinking about the resurrection.

If Luke's gospel ended at chapter 23 we may conclude that Jesus was a great man, a prophet, or a martyr. But all the gospels are emphatic that Jesus story didn’t end with his death, that a few days later he was raised to life and that people witnessed this.

Without the resurrection Jesus becomes just another character in history, however if the resurrection is true then he is unique. But can you accept it as true?

There are 4 pieces of evidence that I always try to share with people when this question comes up:
1. The empty tomb

• It is proclaimed empty just weeks after Jesus death in Jerusalem, people would have known and spoken up if it wasn't empty.
• The tomb did not become a holy place unlike with other places where great men or women are buried, why? because he was seen afterwards.
• The Jewish leaders didn’t contest the empty tomb – they merely raised suspicion about how it came to be empty?

So how come it was empty?

• Swoon theory – Jesus didn't die he just passed out he then came round in the tomb and got out. But the Romans were experts at crucifixion, they didn't get it wrong and they thrust a spear in his side proving his death. Besides that how would a man so weak he swoons then come round enough to move a heavy stone and evade the guards.
• Wrong tomb – The disciples and women simply went to the wrong tomb. But such a mistake would have been checked checked out and quickly corrected, besides which we are told they knew where the tomb was!
• Disciples stole body – But that doesn't fit with events afterwards as the disciples die for claims of resurrection. Con men do not die for their lies.

It leaves us with the most likely scenario being the right one, the tomb was empty on Easter Sunday.

2. Women witnesses
Women’s evidence was not admissible in court, so if the resurrection was made up you wouldn’t have women as initial witnesses.

3. similarities and dissimilarities in the accounts
Historians & Police look for general agreement but also small individual variations in accounts of events because it tells us that the accounts were not copied. Gospel accounts of the resurrection live up to this test – they do not contradict each other but they are also not carbon copies of each other.

4. Transformation in the disciples
Peter in the gospels is fearful and denies Jesus, but in Luke’s next volume, Acts, he stands up to the Pharisees and high priest contending for Jesus resurrection.

James – one of Jesus brothers in the gospels thought Jesus was insane, but in Acts he has become a leader of church and is executed for his beliefs. What produces such changes in these men? Seeing the resurrected Jesus.

Happy Easter

Christ is risen - that is the traditional greeting that was said in Churches this morning, as we remember the fantastic news that having died for our sins on the cross, God the Father raised Jesus back to life because death could not hold him and God's anger against sin had been poured out upon Jesus and he had exhausted it.

Christ is risen - it is a three word phrase laden with meaning. It means death is defeated, it means that the wages of my sin are paid for in full, it means I am brought into relationship with God, it means I am viewed by a just and Holy God as his child credited with Christ's perfect record, it means I have a future to look forward to and live in the light of.

Christ is risen - the first fruits as the New Testament writers call him, the trailblazer whose resurrection to life will be the experience of all those who trust in him for salvation, who call him Lord and saviour.

Christ is risen - the just anger of a holy God against our, my, rebellion is paid for in full and I am free of its guilt and burden.