Archive for the ‘Death and Resurrection’ Category

Genesis 17:1

Friday, July 23rd, 2010

This was the confirmation verse (a verse given specially at the time when He publicly confessed his faith in Christ) for the first man at whose funeral I officiated today.

God speaks to Abram and says:

“I Am God Almighty, walk before me and be blameless.”

Most translations use the word “blameless” here.  The original Hebrew literally means “complete,” or “whole.”  Elsewhere in the OT this word is translated as “with out blemish” and even “perfect.”

We often read this as a command.  The God who creates this covenant with Abram declares his just requirement of those who would be his:  Be whole. Be complete. Be without blemish. Be Perfect.  This is God’s demand.  That we would be perfect in love for him and for one another.  But who among us (let alone Abram!) has done this?

The original language does leave room for this to be a promise–not merely a command.  “Walk before me and you will be: complete, whole, without blemish, perfect.”  How wonderful. How true.

For there is one (and ONLY one) who has truly been totally whole, complete, without blemish and perfect: Jesus, the spotless “lamb of God.”  This Jesus lived a perfect life on our behalf.  His own righteousness, his own perfection is credited to our account as we trust in him.  And our wicked thoughts, words and actions are given over to him wholly (along with the deserved punishment for these acts) through his death on the cross.

The end result is that all who trust in Jesus are counted whole, complete, without blemish and even perfect in the sight of God on behalf of Jesus. wow.

Not only that, but Jesus has promised to one day return and raise our bodies from the ground making them gloriously new. On THAT day–we will experience, not merely by faith, but by sight our own wholeness, completion and perfection in Him.

Thank you, Lord Jesus.

Posted in Death and Resurrection, Perfection Of Christ, Resurrection, Trust, forgiveness | No Comments »

And Then There Were Three

Tuesday, July 20th, 2010

I can’t recall ever having three funerals in one week–nor five within a month’s time.  But that’s what I’ve got.  Two more this Friday.  I appreciate these opportunities, actually.  At a funeral, people are confronted with the reality of death and I have the opportunity to point them to Jesus as the only answer, the only hope that we really have in this world.  Life is short–even if lived fully as our current ages would recon–in the span of eternity.  We need the forgiveness and life that only Jesus brings.

Posted in Being A Pastor, Death and Resurrection, Jesus, Resurrection | No Comments »

Matter Matters.

Tuesday, April 14th, 2009

The Resurrection makes this clear.  At funerals you sometimes hear people say things like, “the part of him that matters most,” or “the real _____________” is gone. But that’s not totally true. People are not simply spirits that inhabit bodies that can be happily discarded when the time is done. No. God made us body and soul together. The body matters as does the soul.  The Resurrection of Jesus demonstrates this.   Jesus said, “Look at my hands and my feet. It is I myself! Touch me and see; a ghost does not have flesh and bones, as you see I have.” (Luke 24:39)  Jesus did not come back as a “spirit” but as a “whole man,” body and soul together.  God created this physical world and it was all “good.” (see the refrain during the creation account in Genesis 1!)

God’s plan is to restore CREATION.  We do not simply die and become spirits that become “one with the cosmos.”  Our bodies will rise again, gloriously transformed.  Our Bodies matter to God.  Now and for all eternity.

Posted in Death and Resurrection, Resurrection, The Creation/Nature | No Comments »

Getting Ready

Saturday, April 11th, 2009

Tomorrow is Easter Sunday.  As a pastor, there is NOTHING like it.  It’s simply the best day of the whole year to preach.  It’s not as though Christ is any more alive tomorrow than He was that first Sunday when He emerged from the tomb, victorious.  It’s not as though His Resurrection from the dead is any more special tomorrow than it was four weeks ago or in the middle of last July.  Oh, that the Joy and exhilaration of that victory were ALWAYS in our hearts!

But now, the Church has been focused these past forty days on the march of Christ toward the cross.  Just yesterday, we sang again the hymns fixing our thoughts firmly on the sacrifice of Jesus.  These hymns, followed by those we will sing tomorrow are some of the most wondrous of all!

Tomorrow, in most ways, will be no different than the other 364 days of the year.  But it will still be different.  I will get up earlier for a sun-rise service.  We’ll gather on the porch in the cold with the great white cross in the background.  We’ll shiver and we’ll sing.  Inside, the lilies will give off their distinct fragrance as their trumpet-shaped bells join the celebration.  The choirs will sing, the trumpets will soar.  People will dress up a little nicer than usual.

Together, we’ll repeat again the ancient Creed: “Christ Is Risen!  He Is Risen Indeed!  Alleluia!”  And I will have the joy and privilege of proclaiming through Christ’s Resurrection, victory over death!  Eternal Life for all who trust in Jesus.  As I finish up my preparations–I’m eager.  I’m excited even now to preach.  I can’t wait!

Posted in Death and Resurrection, Sermon Prep, The Resurrection of Our Lord | No Comments »

Morbid But Important

Thursday, February 26th, 2009

Face after face.  Man.  Woman.  Boy and Girl.

“Remember that you are dust, and to dust you will return.”

“Remember that you are dust, and to dust you will return.”

“Remember that you are dust, and to dust you will return.”

It’s a messy business.  Some ash sprinkles on a woman’s nose.  Not just my finger, but my whole hand seems to be covered in black soot.

“Remember that you are dust, and to dust you will return.”

“Remember that you are dust, and to dust you will return.”

Even as I intone the words again and again and smear the ashes on their foreheads, part of me is horrified.  Why am I reminding these people that they will die?  And in such a blunt way!  This seems so depressing.  So morbid.  Why are they subjecting themselves to this?  Why am I doing this?  Do they need this reminder?  Do I?

Yes.  I think we do.  I know we do.

“Remember that you are dust, and to dust you will return.”

“Remember that you are dust, and to dust you will return.”

It’s humbling.  It’s jarring.

“Remember that you are dust, and to dust you will return.”

“Remember that you are dust, and to dust you will return.”

Death is no respecter of persons.  It happens to the young and the old, the rich and the poor, the wise and the foolish.  Death awaits us all.  And this is just.  This is the Divine Sentence passed down on our first father and all his wayward children.

“Remember that you are dust, and to dust you will return.”

“Remember that you are dust, and to dust you will return.”

Our selfish nature needs this reminder.

My proud ego needs this reminder.

“Remember that you are dust, and to dust you will return.”

“Remember that you are dust, and to dust you will return.”

And there, in the ash, the sign of the cross appears.  It’s not perfect.  It’s a little fatter than I’d like it.  But there it is.  The Divine Sentence.  Death to the Son of God.

And Life for us.

We may be dust.  But God loves this dust and will preserve it until the day of the resurrection.  And then.  Wonder of Wonders, these molecules will be stirred and dust will again be shaped by the Master’s hand and the Breath of Life will again enter this body.  And that one.  And that one.  And we shall be made new.  And with our own eyes–we shall see Him.

In the midst of the dirt, the ash, the death–there is the sign of victory for us all.

Posted in Death and Resurrection, Jesus, Lent, Repentance | No Comments »

Grieving In Hope

Sunday, August 3rd, 2008

Brothers, we do not want you to be ignorant about those who fall asleep, or to grieve like the rest of men, who have no hope. 1 Thessalonians 4:13

There’s something wonderful about the funeral of a brother or sister in Christ.

Yes.  I said “wonderful.”

While death is still an enemy that rends soul from body, friend from friend, beloved from beloved, for those “in Christ” this harsh separation is merely temporary.   Jesus has already won the victory through His death on the cross and His own resurrection from the grave.  His Word is true.  He who is the Resurreciton and the Life (John 11:25), will raise up our bodies so that they will be like His glorious One.  (Philippians 3:2)

At the funeral of one who is “in Christ,” we have the opportunity to reflect on our own mortality, hear again these wonderful promises, and marvel at the Love of God in Christ.

Our gaze is turned to that Last Day when Christ shall return, and death will be “swallowed up in victory.” (1 Corinthians 15:54)

Amen.  Come Lord Jesus!

Posted in Death and Resurrection, Jesus, Salvation | 2 Comments »