At square one, Christianity is good news. Not a new, different form of spirituality. Not a list of rules and regs.
It is good news — the good news that Jesus, the Messiah of Israel and the Lord of the whole world, was raised from the dead by the Father and continues to live and rule.
All of our existence is lived out of this good news. It’s an actual event from an actual Sunday morning one actual Spring day in the real land of Palestine.
It altered history. Nothing will be the same again.
It is called by Paul the “firstfruits” (1 Cor. 15:20). In other words, it ushered in a whole new creation which God is continuing to form. And especially it guaranteed that all others who die in the Lord will be raised to live again in the “new heavens and new earth.” Not a bunch of disembodies spirits flying around “heaven” — but resurrected people finding supreme joy in the new creation of God.
For us this means that we’ll see Megan again. Some day that body that we loved so much will be called out of the grave. It will be transformed — just as Jesus’ body remained the same (even bearing the scars) but was transformed. We’ll join with her in the ongoing celebration of the rule of God.
Is it true? Maybe. Maybe not.
By faith, we believe it is. And we’re willing to bet everything on it.
Happy Easter.
I closed my sermon time this morning with the words from this Brooks and Dunn song:
Believe
Old man Wrigley lived in that white house
Down the street where I grew up
Momma used to send me over with things
We struck a friendship up
I spent a few long summers out on his old porch swing
Says he was in the war when in the navy
Lost his wife, lost his baby
Broke down and asked him one time
How ya keep from going crazy
He said I’ll see my wife and son in just a little while
I asked him what he meant
He looked at me and smiled, said
I raise my hands, bow my head
I’m finding more and more truth in the words written in red
They tell me that there’s more to life than just what I can see
Oh I believe
Few years later I was off at college
Talkin’ to mom on the phone one night
Getting all caught up on the gossip
The ins and outs of the small town life
She said oh by the way son, old man Wrigley’s died.
Later on that night, I laid there thinkin’ back
Thought ’bout a couple long-lost summers
I didn’t know whether to cry or laugh
If there was ever anybody desevred a ticket to the other side
It’d be that sweet old man who looked me in the eye, said
I raise my hands, bow my head
I’m finding more and more truth in the words written in red
They tell me that there’s more to life than just what I can see
I can’t quote the book
The chapter or the verse
You can’t tell me it all ends
In a slow ride in a hearse
You know I’m more and more convinced
The longer that I live
Yeah, this can’t be
No, this can’t be
No, this can’t be all there is
When I raise my hands, bow my head
I’m finding more and more truth in the words written in red
They tell me that there’s more to life than just what I can see
I believe
Oh, I
I believe
I believe
I believe
I believe
I believe
Peace.
Mike, I thought of you and Diane, and of Megan–and of Jantsen–today. Remembering them and the promise we have in Christ brought tears to my eyes and joy to my heart. Happy Easter.
Kathy
Thanks for those words, Steve. And Kathy, what a blessing. Thanks for remembering my dear nephew, Jantsen, too.
The gospel was such good news for Paul, he labeled it of “first importance.” It was so central to his life that when given only one chance to speak to a mob wanting him dead, he would share his story rather than some great apologetic, theological argument, or legal defense. My prayer for my life is for this story to be of first importance in my life as well.
Have you seen the movie Second Chance with Michael W. Smith yet? I recommend that everyone see it and support this kind of production. Check it out here: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0429068/ Make up your own mind about how good it is. Good news comes in many forms.
if death is the enemy then is it wrong to become friends with it, for my hope runs through it. i don’t mind keeping the scars but please God let me be whole again. i choose to believe!
Oh, it’s true brother. It’s true. Here is a powerful prayer from the Puritan period.
O God of my Exodus
Great was the joy of Israel’s son,
when Egypt died upon the shore,
far greater the joy
when the Redeemer’s foe lay crushed in the dust.
Jesus strides forth as the victor,
conqueror of death, hell and all opposing might;
He bursts the bands of death,
tramples the powers of darkness down,
lives for ever.
He my gracious surety,
apprehened for payment of my debt,
comes forth from the prison house of the grave
free, and triumphant over sin, Satan, and death.
Show me herein the proof that his vicarious offering
is accepted,
that the claims of justice are satisfied,
that the devil’s sceptre is shivered,
that the wrongful thron is levelled.
Give me the assurance that in Christ I died,
in him I rose,
in his life I live, in his victory I triumph,
in his acension I shall be glorified.
Adorable Redeemer,
thou who wast lifted up upon a cross.
art ascended to the highest heaven.
Thou, who as man of sorrows
wast crowned with thorns,
art now as Lord of life wreathed with glory.
Once, no shame more deep than thine,
no agony more bitter,
no death more cruel.
Now, no exaltation more high,
no life more glorious,
no advocate more effective.
Thou are in the triumph car leading captive
thine enemies behind thee.
What more could be done than thou hast done!
Thy death is my life,
thy resurrection my peace,
thy ascension my hope,
thy prayers my comfort.
Every blessing,
Lawrence
From the Saint John Passion by Bach
Beloved Savior, let me ask,
Since you, forever nailed to the cross,
Yourself did say: It is fulfilled!
Am I set free from death at last?
Can I, by your pain and death,
Inherit the Kingdom of Heaven?
Is all the world’s redemption there?
Your pain is such, you cannot speak;
And yet, you bow your head to say in silence: Yes!
Since the children have flesh and blood, he too shared in their (our) humanity so that by his death he might destroy him who holds the power of death - that is the devil- and free those (us) who all their (our) lives were held in slavery by their (our) fear of death…
Therefore, since we have a great High Priest who has gone into the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold firmly to the faith we profess. For we do not have a High Priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are –yet was without sin. Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.
We buried a High School classmate yesterday. Yes, the irony was palatable. I choose by faith to believe also.
DU
Hey Mike, for me those “maybe’s” really need to be left in! I thought they were ‘grace-full’ and they made me think it through again. What’s up?
By faith men set them selves on fire and find no peace
By faith cities lay in ruins and yet there is no victory
By faith great explorations are sent out only to end up lost
By faith Andrea Yates drowned her children
By faith I believe yet I cannot prove it
Therefore I choose to believe my faith
Who else has the words of life?
Choose me!
Thanks, Steve. They’re back. It’s what I believe, of course — that there is risk and decision in faith. We walk by faith and not by sight. But still, I know it’s disorienting to some people. But back to the original!
Happy Patriot’s Day Everyone
But wait — Massachusetts is the only place that has this HOLIDAY!
We’re enjoying a nice day off.
The Marathon is running. Go Sox!
Thank you for saying it so beautifully Mike. There has been a lot of debate and garbage going on in the comments of my blog, all because I said that it was a wonderful Easter celebrating the resurrection of Jesus Christ! I stopped by your blog, and all of a sudden I don’t feel nearly as beaten into the ground as I did after reading the last comments on my own blog.
Thanks for the reminders of what matters most.
If my son, who has autism, does not learn to speak “perfectly” down here, I will be able to hold a whole conversation with him in heaven.
bury me deep. Because I too chose to believe it won’t hold me.
I love what you have to say, Mike. I, too, choose to believe. I pray that someday my children who are now 24 and 27 will come back to their belief and love they once had for the Lord!
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