Welcome to April, friends! Spring has sprung and we’re on our way to growth, new life, and the gorgeous scenes that we’re blessed with here in the Erie region. As April is the month in which we celebrate the Resurrection of the Lord (aka Easter), it’s important for us to take a few moments and reflect on it. As I’ve said in sermons in the past, if there is no resurrection of Christ, there is no Greek Bible (aka New Testament) and there’s no Christianity. Resurrection is, arguably, the most important aspect of the Christian faith. Everything that we believe and know about God seems to flow from and flow to this central action of God’s raising of Jesus from the tomb.
But one aspect of resurrection we have to wonder about: What earthly difference does resurrection make in the here and now?
Sure, we confess in the Apostles’ Creed, “I believe in…the resurrection of the body” and in the Nicene Creed, “I look forward to the resurrection of the dead and the life of the world to come,” but both of these statements are future orientated. They’re about what happens after we die and after Jesus returns to the earth.
However, it’s more difficult for us to consider what does the resurrection mean now? In one way, we see death and resurrection happen during worship. In the Sacrament of Christian Baptism, we believe that by action of the Holy Spirit, the person (child, older child, or adult) is put to death and buried in the tomb with Christ. And after the water has been applied, they experience resurrection right in front of our eyes. It’s further understood that in baptism, this is the only death the person will ever experience and that resurrection is now the order of their lives.
But what about after baptism? What about in the everyday messiness of life? What about when families are fractured or communities in turmoil or political upheaval or our own dark night of the soul in moments of loss, hurt, sickness, and pain? Where does resurrection factor in here?
These questions are similar to a central one that retired Yale Divinity School theologian Dr. David H. Kelsey asked in his brilliant book Imagining Redemption. In this book, Dr. Kelsey wanted to know “what earthly difference does Jesus make here?” And similarly, we want to know what power and influence does resurrection have now? In his work, Dr. Kelsey proposes that redemption is not a one-size-fits-all concept. Instead, it is made powerful by its context. I would agree that resurrection works the same.
When we speak of the resurrection at the return of Christ, we could call this, “The general resurrection,” that Scripture testifies too and the creeds affirm. But in our lives, we experience “contextual resurrection.”
Here are some examples: a substance addicted person finds sobriety for the first time—resurrection. A family, which has been broken and fractured for a period of time finally comes together again—resurrection. We receive a word of hope and healing in our medical situation—resurrection. We see someone change their life for the better and grow into the gifts that the Spirit has given—resurrection. When a person of faith who fell away or was chased away from the Church is able to come home again and rejoin the fellowship—resurrection. When forgiveness is given after years of pain, animus, and hate—resurrection. And you reading this may think of many of other examples similar to these and again—resurrection.
Resurrection is about a new direction, a new life, a new chance. It is bathed in the hope and certainty of God’s love which controls and empowers the world. Resurrection doesn’t simply have to be about graves opening and the formerly dead standing up. It can be about smaller situations, giving us glimpses in this life of God’s ultimate aim.
Don’t look too hard or get too confused—resurrection is all around us. Look, listen, observe…you see it in the natural world. After a horrible winter with so much illness, cold, and yes even death, the trees and birds and plants will spring forth–resurrection.
The power of Christ’s overcoming death and opening wide the tomb is not just something that happened about 2,000 years ago. It’s not just something that will happen at some point in the unknown future. Instead, it is something that is happening right here and now in our everyday lives.
Look around…listen close for the Spirit…see what God is doing!
Resurrection is real…and it’s here…and it’s time to rejoice!
A blessed resurrection to you all.