Mar 31, 2002

John 20:1-18 The hope of Resurrection.

The wonderful altar painting here in Mindekirken makes this church an Easter Day Church. Every Sunday morning when we enter here we look into the Resurrection. The resurrection of Christ is the headline here in Mindekirken. What happened on Easter Day is lifted up before us as a statement of the basis of our faith and of what is going to happen again when all are to participate in resurrection from death.

I listened to Handel’s Messiah the other day and how the Choir in a very powerful manner sang the words about resurrection from death. When the Choir sings the words "As all died in Adam", the voices are so soft and quiet, no music, and then a pause, a moment of silence. Then suddenly the orchestra and the choir come out very strong and powerful with the words about the resurrection: "so in Christ shall all be made alive."

(1 Cor.15:22)

Christianity is built upon the resurrection of Christ and the promise that all will be made alive together with Him.

What does it mean?

What specially is this hope of resurrection?

What is it about when we use the apostolic words; " I believe - resurrection of the body and eternal life"?

Most of the time we think of the physical resurrection of each one. That is true. We are allowed to think that though my body is broken to dust God will at the very last day collect every piece of dust and recreate my body. I will have my personal identity as an individual. God also shall raise my beloved ones and we will meet again. Then we will live together as we did on earth. Then we will no longer see like a dim image in a mirror, then we shall see face to face. All the different kinds of weaknesses we used to have are gone because we are going to be alike with Him that was the first fruit of the resurrection. We will have all our questions answered, all the mysteries revealed, and all "Why?" will be clarified.

Certainly this will be a personal and individual experience as stated in John 3:16 " so that everyone that believes in him may not perish but have eternal life."

What a great faith "I believe …the resurrection of the body and eternal life."

In the Bible we see how the good news about resurrection is not related to individuals only. It has a more profound and broad meaning. It is about the living God that transfers his life to the entire creation.

Within natural science and gene technology some scientists ask the question: What is the meaning of life in the lab? What will the post human life be like? Are we coming to an end when it comes to the kind of human being we know of today? Do we have the possibility to create a new life that lasts forever? Would it be life on a higher level? Today’s science seems to open up for many possibilities and many questions. Maybe we are going to build another Tower of Babel? But during history many cultures have collapsed.

Behind our faith in Resurrection we believe in God the Almighty, Creator of mankind in his own image. The human being was the crown of creation. The Incarnation of God’s Son and Christ’s resurrection is God’s "Yes" to the human being he created in his own image. The man ate from the tree of knowledge to become like God instead man lost his life and was claimed by death. Easter Day God takes a new action to bring us back to life. This is not only the spiritual life but the entire human life. Therefore we have to protect human life from conception to death and we have to protect the rights for all human beings, and to develop just human societies and take care of natural environment as well. By the Resurrection of Christ God accepts his Son and what he has done on earth. God also accepts the human being he created but was lost. Now he claims his lost creation and opens his heavenly kingdom for his children on earth. Death shall not rule any more but life.

In The Old Testament the prophet Ezekiel draws a dramatic vision of the people of Israel as dry bones in the valley.(Chap 37) God breathes new life into the dead bones, they were covered with sinews and muscles and with skin, they were made alive, the bones began to join together. The Prophet spoke from God to the people and said:" I, the Sovereign Lord am going to open their graves. I am going to take them out and bring them back to the land of Israel. When I open the graves where my people are buried and bring them out, they will know that I am the Lord. I will put my breath in them, bring them back to life, and let them live in their own land". (12-14)

In The New Testament Baptism is considered to be a similar experience of resurrection and new life. This is already the reality for God’s new people the church. And the resurrection on the very last day is considered to be a new creation act.

Paul the Apostle writes: "For when you were baptized, you were buried with Christ, and in baptism you were also raised with Christ through your faith in the active power of God, who raised him from death. You were at one time spiritually dead because of your sins-. But God has now brought you to life with Christ" Col. 2:12-14

In chapter 3 the Apostle continues: "You have been raised to life with Christ, so set your hearts on the things that are in heaven, where Christ sits on his throne at the right-hand side of God. Keep your minds fixed on things there, not on things here on earth. For you have died and your life is hidden with Christ in God." Col. 3:1-4

In this you have a glimpse of the power of resurrection in our life today.

What a new life you already have. What a new life you already can live.

May I finally add one more glimpse of what Easter is meant to be.

On the Aisle of Patmos the apostle John had a vision: " Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth. The first heaven and the first earth disappeared, and the sea vanished. (shall not Lake Minnetonka and the Atlantic Ocean and the Lake Mjøsa exist any more? Oh yes, I hope so. But the powers of chaos shall not be any more) Now God’s home is with mankind! He will live with them, and they shall be his people. God himself will be with them, and he will be their God. He will wipe away all tears from their eyes. There will be no more death, no more grief or crying or pain. The old things have disappeared." Rev. 21: 1-4

Easter proclaims Christ is risen! He lives! And as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive by faith in Him. Halleluja!

Amen.

The Norwegian Lutheran Memorial Church ·  924 E. 21st St, Minneapolis, MN 55404-2952 ·  (612)874-0716