RESURRECTION

RESURRECTION STORIES

1.     A rough and ready guide to the Resurrection stories in the four Gospels is to imagine that each of the Evangelists is engaged in answering the question: Where is Jesus now? Marks’ answer is: He is coming soon, be ready and stay awake. Mathew’s is: H is Emmanuel, God with us when we meet in his name; he continues to proclaim the coming Kingdom, to teach us and to heal us, and to be our ransom. Luke’s answer to the question is: He is at God’s right hand in heaven, pouring forth the Spirit so that we can preach repentance and forgiveness of sin in his name. To John the answer is: He is in us and we are in him, through the Spirit he has breathed upon us.                                                           The Easter stories are expressions of the Easter faith; that is the way they should be read.

2.     Modern theology has been notoriously coy about dubbing the Resurrection an event in “history”.

3.     Modern scholarship starts from the fact that the stories are contained in written documents, and therefore subjects them to literary analysis. This requires different methods, depending on the purpose which the analysis is intended to serve. If the aim is to establish the historical value of a tradition, the various tools of historical criticism must be brought into action. These include source criticism to establish the relationship between the Gospel accounts, form criticism to identify their social function in the community in the underlying oral stage of transmission, and redaction criticism to establish the tendencies of the different Evangelists in the way they have presented them. It is also necessary to compare them with such historical evidence as may be preserved outside the Gospels. From this point of view the letters of Paul have special importance, partly because he wrote them before any of the four Gospels reached their present form, but chiefly because he has preserved a formal statement concerning the Resurrection which he received from the Jerusalem Church, probably from Peter himself (1 Cor 15, 3 – 7). Other scholarly approaches, such as structural analysis, are concerned with the literary character of the Resurrection stories as they stand in the text, regardless of their Synoptic relationships and their historical values.                                    A connection between appearances and apostolic commissioning is a feature of the Gospel stories. The fact that the foundation appearance to Peter himself (1 Cor 15, 4; Luke 24, 34) is nowhere described suggests that the development of the traditions was not primarily concerned with proof of the Resurrection but with its meaning in experience. This explains the meal setting in the walk to Emmaus (Luke 24, 30 – 35) and assembly of the Apostles (Luke 24, 36 – 43), possibly also John 20, 19 – 29, as it appears to reflect the Sunday Eucharist. See also John 21, 9 – 14. For it was pre-eminently in the Eucharistic assembly that the presence of the Risen Jesus was experienced in the life of the Church.

Resurrection does not mean the sloughing off the human and the resumption of the divine. The divine is rather channeled through and manifested in the human both in the earthly life of Jesus and in his risen glorified humanity. In Chapter XI of her Biography, St. Teresa of Avila maintains that we cannot attain God except through the humanity of Christ. This is one of the main differences between Christian incarnational belief and Hindu avatar belief. Vishnu appears on earth in many temporary forms, animal and human, but the human form of Krishna, for example, is only a screen. With the death of Krishna, Vishnu resumes his full unmediated deity.                                                                                               In Christianity God is known concretely and personally in so far as he renders himself knowable through the Incarnation, Resurrection, and the Holy Spirit’s inspiration. But this is not just a question of our knowledge of God. The humanity of Christ is the vehicle of our union and communion with God through all eternity. We have been incorporated into Christ’s risen body and are raised into the life of heaven. In the communion of saints in heaven, as on earth, it is through Christ’s glorified body that we continue to be embraced and sustained in the love of God. In heaven we shall know God more and more profoundly, but we shall also see his human face, since God is man forever. All our life long we have been trying to know Jesus Christ, Son of God, Son of Mary, trying to know him in prayer, reading the Gospel, listening to teaching. It would be supreme joy to see what he looks like, see him as he looks in himself.                                                                                “Truly, this man was a Son of God” (Mark 15, 39). Notice the irony here. A centurion, a symbol of Roman power, confesses that this crucified Jesus – who couldn’t be more powerless on the cross – is the Son of God. Mark stresses, then, that true power is expressed in embracing human suffering, as Jesus did on the cross, and that discipleship means identifying with Jesus in a ministry of expressing God’s power and love by embracing human suffering.

                                                                          

MARY'S PREGNANCY

Mary and Pregnancy That teenager, named Mary of Nazareth, suddenly became a mother-to-be. Like the average woman, she submitted to the miracle of pregnancy, to something that took its own course, irrespective of the mother, because, as in every pregnancy, it was monitored by a higher power. In Mary’s case, it was the Holy Spirit. Mary made a quickie trip to her cousin Elizabeth in Ain Karim about 130 kilometres away. So the young woman was pregnant about 10 days on arrival. A certain poet, thinking of the donkey that carried Mary, wrote, “Mary weighed little for she was concentrating on the future within her.” Her amazement and sheer wonder at being chosen must have made her forget the difficulties of the journey. We can hope for a similar lightsomeness of spirit and body as we wait with Mary to celebrate the birth of Jesus. Advent is a good time to reflect on the pregnancy of Mary, as she waited in joyful expectation for the birth of her son. Reflecting on Mary’s pregnancy can teach us patience and the attitude of joyful anticipation that all of us should have as we prepare to celebrate the birth of Jesus and as we wait for his second coming in glory at the end of time. This attitude of joyful expectation should accompany the pregnancy of every woman as she awaits the birth of her pre-born child. Each child is made in the image and likeness of God, no matter what their handicaps or circumstances of conception. Every child deserves a chance to be born and to continue to grow and develop outside the womb. Jesus identifies with the pre-born since he himself was a pre-born child. Jesus went through all the stages of development that we went through. He was a tiny zygote, an embryo, fetus, infant, child, adolescent and an adult. At no time did he become more human. He simply went through different stages of human development as we all did. When Jesus was developing in the womb he was not a potential person but a real person. Mary also can identify with every pregnant mother in a difficult pregnancy. She did not fully understand God’s plan, yet she trusted. True devotion to Mary means imitating her virtues – her faith, her trust and her willingness to make sacrifices for the sake of her son and others as she stayed with Elizabeth for three months to help Elizabeth deliver John.  When Mary visited Elizabeth, John leapt for joy within Elizabeth’s womb as he recognized Christ’s presence in Mary. Thus we see John who was a fetus recognizing Christ who was a tiny embryo. This should lead us to an even greater respect for the lives of pre-born children and inspire us to work for their protection. Jesus says, "Whatever you do to the least of my brothers and sisters that you do to me" (Mt. 25, 40). St. Joseph cared for Mary during her pregnancy. He is an example for all men of the stewardship they are called to exercise. Men are called to respect the wonder of procreation and to care for pregnant women emotionally, materially and spiritually. During their pregnancies women become vulnerable and should be able to rely on the support of their husbands and other men in their life who should respect and assist women as the mystery of life unfolds within them. It is fitting that there are major feasts of Our Lady during the celebration of Advent – the Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception and the Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe (December 12). Mary appeared as a pregnant woman to Blessed Juan Diego in Mexico in 1531. She identified herself to be "the perpetual and perfect Virgin Mary, holy mother of the true God through whom everything lives, the Creator and Master of heaven and earth". She also proclaimed herself as Juan Diego’s "merciful mother, the mother of all of you who live united in this land, and of all humankind, of all those who love me, of those who cry out to me, of those who seek me, of those who have confidence in me." Mary showed love to a people who had just escaped from the diabolical Aztec empire in which human sacrifices were offered to false gods. Pope John Paul II proclaimed Our Lady of Guadalupe patroness of the Americas. She is also recognized as the Patroness of the Unborn. The moment Mary said ‘yes’ to God, Jesus Christ was conceived in her womb by the power of the Holy Spirit. He is the Way, the Truth and the Life, so Mary is truly the Mother of our Life.  Throughout history Mary has come to the aid of her people. As Mary put an end to the culture of death in Mexico we pray today that she will intercede for all nations, to intercede for us to put an end to the tragedies of abortion, euthanasia and other attacks on human life, and that we might lead other nations to respect the dignity and value of each and every human life from conception to death.

RESURRECTION SO IMPORTANT

 "Why is the resurrection of Jesus Christ important?" The resurrection of Jesus is important for several reasons. First, it witnesses to the immense power of God Himself. To believe in the resurrection is to believe in God. If God exists, and if He created the universe and has power over it, He has power to raise the dead. If He does not have such power, He is not a God worthy of our faith and worship. Only He who created life can resurrect it after death, only He can reverse the hideousness that is death itself, and only He can remove the sting that is death and the victory that is the grave’s (1 Corinthians 15:54-55). In resurrecting Jesus from the grave, God reminds us of His absolute sovereignty over life and death.

Second, the resurrection of Jesus is a testimony to the resurrection of human beings, which is a basic tenet of the Christian faith. Unlike all other religions, Christianity alone possesses a founder who transcends death and who promises that His followers will do the same. All other religions were founded by men and prophets whose end was the grave. As Christians, we take comfort in the fact that our God became man, died for our sins, and was resurrected the third day. The grave could not hold Him. He lives, and He sits today at the right hand of God the Father in heaven.

In 1 Corinthians 15, Paul explains in detail the importance of the resurrection of Christ. Some in Corinth did not believe in the resurrection of the dead, and in this chapter Paul gives six disastrous consequences if there were no resurrection: 1) preaching Christ would be senseless (v. 14); 2) faith in Christ would be useless (v. 14); 3) all the witnesses and preachers of the resurrection would be liars (v. 15); 4) no one would be redeemed from sin (v. 17); 5) all former believers would have perished (v.18); and 6) Christians would be the most pitiable people on the earth (v. 19). But Christ indeed has risen from the dead and “has become the first-fruits of those who have fallen asleep” (v. 20), assuring that we will follow Him in resurrection.

The inspired Word of God guarantees the believer's resurrection at the coming of Jesus Christ for His Body (the Church) at the Rapture. Such hope and assurance results in a great song of triumph as Paul writes in 1 Corinthians 15:55, “Where, O death, is your victory? Where, O death, is your sting?”

How do these concluding verses relate to the importance of the resurrection? Paul answers, “...you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain” (v. 58). He reminds us that because we know we will be resurrected to new life, we can suffer persecution and danger for Christ’s sake (vv. 29-31), just as He did. We can follow the example of the thousands of martyrs through history who gladly traded their earthly lives for everlasting life via the resurrection.

The resurrection is the triumphant and glorious victory for every believer. Jesus Christ died, was buried, and rose the third day according to the Scripture. And, He is coming again! The dead in Christ will be raised up, and those who remain and are alive at His coming will be changed and receive new, glorified bodies (1 Thessalonians 4:13-18). Why is the resurrection of Jesus Christ important to salvation? It demonstrated that God accepted Jesus’ sacrifice on our behalf. It proves that God has the power to raise us from the dead. It guarantees that those who believe in Christ will not remain dead, but will be resurrected unto eternal life. That is our blessed hope!

Recommended Resources: The Case for the Resurrection of Jesus by Gary Habermas and Logos Bible Software.

CONFIDENCE FROM THE LORD

Confidence from the sovereign Lord

SCRIPTURE: Isaiah 50:4-9a (NRSV)

Confidence. We know it when we feel it. We know it when we see it in others. But where does confidence come from? For the writer of Isaiah 50, his confidence comes from knowing the Lord, from serving the Lord. It’s really an amazing recital, bordering on boastful. Who among us could say anything quite like it? The prophet is confident in his gifts and vocation, confident that he is listening to God, confident that he is following the Lord, steely in the face of persecution and abuse, dauntless in his belief that God will help and sustain him. But the passage goes far deeper than mere confidence. The prophet’s confidence is buttressed and buoyed by the following attributes:

Mission. Confidence without mission is aimless. The prophet’s determination grows out of knowing that God has something important for him to do. Who among us would endure persecution and danger for no particular reason?

Righteousness. The prophet is confident in his righteousness. His persecution is not deserved. On the contrary, he wears it as a badge of honor, evidence of his persistence in the face of opposition and suffering.

Determination. The prophet is a rock. He has ‘set his face like flint.’ You can feel his grit and determination oozing from every line of this passage. He’s going to get the job done or quite literally die trying.

Spiritual sensitivity. According to the prophet, every day God wakens his ear “to listen like one being instructed.” My first impulse when writing this devotion was to focus on the first four attributes. Imagine a world where all of God’s people were suffused with confidence, mission, righteousness and determination. We would be an unstoppable force and so much good would be accomplished! But much damage might also be inflicted by God’s people in the absence of the spiritual sensitivity that comes from listening to God daily, continuously.

God, this Lenten season, like the prophet, we pray that we might be equipped with the confidence, righteousness, determination and mission to do your work in the world. But we also pray for the spiritual sensitivity to do it with the grace, wisdom and compassion that comes from listening to you daily. Amen.

SCRIPTURE: Isaiah 50:4-9a (NRSV)

The Servant’s Humiliation and Vindication

The Lord God has given me
the tongue of a teacher,
that I may know how to sustain
the weary with a word.
Morning by morning he wakens—
wakens my ear
to listen as those who are taught.
The Lord God has opened my ear,
and I was not rebellious,
I did not turn backwards.
I gave my back to those who struck me,
and my cheeks to those who pulled out the beard;
I did not hide my face
from insult and spitting.

The Lord God helps me;
therefore I have not been disgraced;
therefore I have set my face like flint,
and I know that I shall not be put to shame;
he who vindicates me is near.
Who will contend with me?
Let us stand up together.
Who are my adversaries?
Let them confront me.
It is the Lord God who helps me;
who will declare me guilty?
All of them will wear out like a garment;
the moth will eat them up.

Blessed »

« A humble servant

FIRST UNSUPERVISED MISSION

THE FIRST UNSUPERVISED MISSION

Matthew 10:5-8  These twelve Jesus sent out with the following instructions: 'Do not go among the Gentiles or enter any town of the Samaritans. Go rather to the lost sheep of Israel. As you go, proclaim this message: "The kingdom of heaven has come near." Heal those who are ill, raise the dead, cleanse those who have leprosy, drive out demons. Freely you have received; freely give. (NIVUK)
 

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There was only a little time. Soon Jesus would be tried and crucified: His earthly ministry would soon be over and the trainee apostles had to be ready to take over as messengers of the gospel. The first unsupervised assignment was as much for their benefit as for the people. In targeting their mission to Jews only, Jesus was removing the opportunity for cross-cultural problems to get in the way and potentially discourage the men.

They were sent to villages where Israelites lived; not Gentiles nor Samaritans. Every Jewish male had enough understanding of the law to recognise the Messianic signs of healing and casting out demons. So when the apostles came into their towns, empowered to heal people, they knew that the Messiah was soon to come. The twelve preached clearly that He was near them and wanted to give to the crowds from His grace. It was great training for the trainee apostles in preparation for their role at the start of the Early Church.

In case they were tempted to become proud, Jesus reminded them that the power to heal, cleanse, exorcise and raise people from the dead did not come from them. It came from Him. Indeed the whole exercise was not intended to make heroes of the disciples but to point people to Jesus Christ and let them put their trust in Him. The disciples needed to know that they had freely received power, which they could never generate, in order to act and speak in the Name of Jesus.

Pride comes easily to people who God uses. It is so tempting to think that our abilities can make the difference for other people. That is a lie: we can only be of any use because the Lord has freely given us love, forgiveness, restoration - and spiritual gifts. So instead of thinking how we might make a name for ourselves or increase our income (as Judas did), we should remember the privilege of being in Christ and being able to serve in his Kingdom. Today, practice giving freely to others something of what the Lord has given to you. That is the way He trains His servants.

Prayer:  Gracious God. Thank You for giving everything to me: my life, health, salvation, spiritual gifts and opportunities to serve You. I repent of my pride in thinking that it is my skills or personality which will help other people to change, when the best I can do is to faithfully and freely use what You have given to me. Please help me practice giving my time, money, and service to other people in Christ's Name. And help me to be content that You have chosen to use me; may I be glad, for all the glory must go to You. In Jesus' Name. Amen.