2014.04.20_Our Hope is the Resurrection

Life and the Breath of Life

            God is the Father of life. He has bestowed life upon us. Life is imperishable and hence, nothing else is more precious to man than life. However, the world is unaware of life. It is only through the church that one is able to hear the news being delivered from God and hence come to know about life.

            Every man is on the earth for some time and ultimately goes to the grave. Although people endeavor to prevent this with all their might, they cannot but eventually end up there. The time given to man until then is very short, that it cannot even be classified as life from God’s perspective. As man’s life signifies the time remaining until death, it does not mean anything before God. Therefore it is probably appropriate to differentiate it from ‘life’ and label it ‘breath of life’.

            People struggle and make every effort to preserve the breath of life that cannot even be classified as life, yet their hearts are always downcast because they know such efforts will fail in the end. As man watches his breath of life deteriorating endlessly despite his wish for it to constantly remain healthy and lively, his heart is always looming with sorrow. Still, even the person who has been beset with sadness all his life, is overcome with great shock once again when the older members of the family pass away one by one. And after having gone through that several times, he realizes that it is his turn to go and shudders at the futility and transience of human life.

            The writer of Ecclesiastes has candidly illustrated the vanity of human life from the standpoint of a philosopher rather than a believer. He has written that everything which man does on the earth is all vanity like grasping for the wind (Ecc 1:14); before death there is no difference between the wise and the foolish for they would all be forgotten from people’s memories alike after the passing of time (Ecc 2:16); and no matter how the man toils under the sun, all that he leaves behind to his descendants is vain labor (Ecc 2:18). Despite the people constantly developing culture and striving for the sake of the breath of life, it is still fading away.

            If there is life which God desires to freely give to man, he must take hold of it. The hope of Christians is in that life. The life given by God is more precious than anything in the world. For a person to commit himself to material acquisition in order to preserve the short breath of life on the earth is like fighting a lost battle. Even if he may lose the breath of life to gain life, he must never forsake life just to keep the breath of life.

Peter’s Testimony to the Resurrection of Jesus

            After the resurrection and ascension of Jesus Christ, the Holy Spirit came upon those who had gathered and prayed in the Upper Room. When Peter, who was filled with the Holy Spirit that day opened his lips and preached, as many as three thousand people were saved. His testimony, which was the first sermon to be preached in the early church, was a massive shock to the Jews at the time. It was the testimony of a witness to the resurrection. He bore witness to the only One who died and rose again in man’s history. There are some people who come back to life after being dead for a short while. However, that is merely temporary; they have not prevailed over death. Yet, Peter and the disciples’ testimony were as of the witnesses to the One who had overcome death forever.

            Peter testified, “Him, being delivered by the determined purpose and foreknowledge of God, you have taken by lawless hands, have crucified, and put to death; whom God raised up, having loosed the pains of death, because it was not possible that He should be held by it” (Acts 2:23-24). And he continued, with reference to Psalm 16 written by David, “For David says concerning Him: ‘I foresaw the Lord always before my face, for He is at my right hand, that I may not be shaken. Therefore my heart rejoiced, and my tongue was glad; moreover my flesh also will rest in hope. For You will not leave my soul in Hades, nor will You allow Your Holy One to see corruption. You have made known to me the ways of life; You will make me full of joy in Your presence’” (Acts 2:25-28).

            The Jews of that time had believed that that Scripture was about David himself. However, Peter proclaimed otherwise. He pointed out that David had died unlike his words ‘for You will not leave my soul in Hades, nor will You allow Your Holy One to see corruption’, and asserted, “Men and brethren, let me speak freely to you of the patriarch David, that he is both dead and buried, and his tomb is with us to this day” (Acts 2:29).

            If Psalm 16 is not about David himself, who is it about? Peter pointed out clearly that David was only carrying out his role as a prophet and said, “he, foreseeing this, spoke concerning the resurrection of the Christ, that His soul was not left in Hades, nor did His flesh see corruption” (Acts 2:31). David’s prophecy was concerning Christ who was to come from among his descendants. The one to fulfill that prophecy must never fall into decay inside the grave. The Christ concerning whom David prophesied was Jesus who had resurrected. He received the way to return to life, and joyfully returned to life (Acts 2:28).

            How did Jesus then come to life? God had raised Him. Regarding this Peter said, “This Jesus God has raised up, of which we are all witnesses” (Acts 2:32). Peter was certain that nobody could deny the resurrection of Jesus, because him and the disciples had personally witnessed the resurrection of Jesus. So then what was it that they had seen? Jesus suffered in the hands of the Roman soldiers and finally shed all of His blood and died. But when the disciples were gathered inside the house with the doors locked, Jesus appeared through the walls and showed Himself to them. On one occasion, about five hundred people witnessed Him at the same time (1 Cor 15:6). Moreover, Jesus was taken up to Heaven in full view of the disciples. The disciples had thus witnessed the resurrection of Jesus who has vanquished death, and as the witnesses bearing that incredible experience they proclaimed that the Christ whom David had prophesied about was Jesus.

The Resurrection of Jesus Proves the Truthfulness of the Word and the Infallibility of the Scripture

            Apostle Paul’s preaching was also similar to that of Peter. Paul had neither spent much time with Peter nor did they ever carry out their ministry together. Nevertheless, Paul’s sermon very much resembled that of Peter. Paul testified, “He was seen for many days by those who came up with Him from Galilee to Jerusalem, who are His witnesses to the people. And we declare to you glad tidings—that promise which was made to the fathers. God has fulfilled this for us their children, in that He has raised up Jesus. As it is also written in the second Psalm: ‘You are My Son, today I have begotten You’” (Acts 13:31-33). Continuing on, he made reference to the Scriptures, Psalm 2:7, Isaiah 55:3 and Psalm 16:10, asserting that such words God had given ahead of time were fulfilled through Jesus Christ. Then he concluded by saying, “For David, after he had served his own generation by the will of God, fell asleep, was buried with his fathers, and saw corruption; but He whom God raised up saw no corruption” (Acts 13:36-37).

            Paul presented various passages of the Scripture as the proof to show that they are all testifying to the resurrection of Jesus. When Paul preached to the Jews, he premised on a fact with which both the Jews and himself concurred – that God’s word is faultless. Through this, Paul uncovered the Jews’ error. Before the resurrection of Jesus, even if the prophecies of the Old Testament including the Psalms were all denounced as a lie, it could not be refuted. However, it could now be testified that the prophecies in the Scripture are true because Jesus Christ has resurrected. Likewise, Paul testified that Jesus’ resurrection is a testament that firmly established God’s word, and the power demonstrating the infallibility of God’s word.

            Paul also gave similar testimonies elsewhere. Before King Agrippa he said, “Therefore, having obtained help from God, to this day I stand, witnessing both to small and great, saying no other things than those which the prophets and Moses said would come— that the Christ would suffer, that He would be the first to rise from the dead, and would proclaim light to the Jewish people and to the Gentiles” (Acts 26:22-23) and thus revealed that the Scriptures are testifying about Jesus Christ. If Jesus had not resurrected the Scriptures would have been in doubt; however, through the resurrection of Jesus, the truthfulness of God’s word and infallibility of the Scriptures have been confirmed.

God Proved Jesus to be the Son of God By Raising Him From the Dead

            There is one other thing God wants to make known to us through the resurrection of Jesus. When Jesus had healed a man who was blind from birth, the Jews despised him and questioned him. Then the man said, ‘Why, this is a marvelous thing, that you do not know where He is from; yet He has opened my eyes! Now we know that God does not hear sinners; but if anyone is a worshiper of God and does His will, He hears him. Since the world began it has been unheard of that anyone opened the eyes of one who was born blind. If this Man were not from God, He could do nothing’. Jesus met the man after he was cast out of the synagogue and asked him ‘do you believe in the Son of Man?’ Here, the Son of Man refers to the Son of God whom Daniel had mentioned (Dan 7:13). The man replied ‘Who is He, Lord, that I may believe in Him?’ Jesus answered, ‘You have both seen Him and it is He who is talking with you’. Then the man said, ‘Lord, I believe!’ And he worshiped Him. The man who was blind from birth, believed Jesus to be the Son of God after seeing the miracle He had done (John 9:1-38).

Once when Jesus was walking on the water towards His disciples, He told Peter to come on the water. The disciples were amazed at this and worshipped Jesus saying, “Truly You are the Son of God” (Matt 14:33).

            The writers of the Synoptic Gospels documented the moment Jesus was being baptized. The Holy Spirit descended on Him as He came out of the water, and a voice came from Heaven saying, “This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased” (Matt 3:17). Through this they realized Jesus was the Son of God.

            Furthermore, Apostle John came to know through John the Baptist that Jesus is the Son of God. John the Baptist confessed, “I did not know Him, but He who sent me to baptize with water said to me, ‘Upon whom you see the Spirit descending, and remaining on Him, this is He who baptizes with the Holy Spirit.’ And I have seen and testified that this is the Son of God” (John 1:33-34).

            When Jesus was crucified, the centurion directing the crucifixion and his servants discovered Jesus to be God’s Son in yet another way. As Jesus breathed His last, they witnessed an earthquake and the dead coming out of the graves and walking into the city. They were greatly shocked and said, “Truly this was the Son of God!” (Matt 27:51-54).

Jesus also spoke about Himself numerous times. He said, “He who has seen Me has seen the Father; so how can you say, ‘Show us the Father’?” (John 14:9), and “I and My Father are one” (John 10:30), emphasizing that He is the Son of God.

            Then how did God the Father demonstrate Jesus to be the Son of God, that is, the Son of Man? Concerning this Acts 13:30 says, “But God raised Him from the dead”; Romans 6:4 says, “Just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father”; and Romans 1:4 says, “and declared to be the Son of God with power according to the Spirit of holiness, by the resurrection from the dead”. God has raised Jesus from the dead and thus has proven that He is God’s Son. Indeed the disciple Thomas saw the risen Jesus and worshipped Him saying, “My Lord and my God!” (John 20:28).

            Ephesians 1:20 says, “which He worked in Christ when He raised Him from the dead and seated Him at His right hand in the heavenly places”. Who would dare sit at God’ right hand if not the Son of God, if not the Son of Man, if not the One who has the divine nature of God inherently? Mark 16:19 says, “So then, after the Lord had spoken to them, He was received up into heaven, and sat down at the right hand of God”. Saying that Jesus who was crucified not long ago is now seated at God’s right hand emphasizes that He has resurrected. Colossian 3:1 says, “If then you were raised with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ is, sitting at the right hand of God”. Thus God has proven Jesus to be the Son of God by raising Him and seating Him at His right hand.

Jesus, the Lord of Resurrection

            God has made Jesus the Resurrected One our Lord and Christ. Peter made reference to Psalm 110:1 and said, “For David did not ascend into the heavens, but he says himself: ‘The Lord said to my Lord, “Sit at My right hand, till I make Your enemies Your footstool” (Acts 2:34-35). And as he further explained the words, “Sit at my right hand” he testified, “Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly that God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Christ” (Acts 2:36).

            Even Jesus Himself stressed that He is the resurrected Lord. When Jesus said to Martha, ‘your brother will rise again’, Martha answered, ‘I know that he will rise again in the resurrection at the last day’. As Jesus had intended to raise Lazarus again, He was quite surprised by Martha’s unexpected answer and said, “I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in Me, though he may die, he shall live. And whoever lives and believes in Me shall never die. Do you believe this?” (John 11:17-26).

            Jesus said, “Most assuredly, I say to you, the hour is coming, and now is, when the dead will hear the voice of the Son of God; and those who hear will live” (John 5:25) and again, “Do not marvel at this; for the hour is coming in which all who are in the graves will hear His voice” (John 5:28). He also said, “No one can come to Me unless the Father who sent Me draws him; and I will raise him up at the last day. It is written in the prophets, ‘And they shall all be taught by God.’ Therefore everyone who has heard and learned from the Father comes to Me” (John 6:44-45), and prophesied, “I am the living bread which came down from heaven. If anyone eats of this bread, he will live forever; and the bread that I shall give is My flesh, which I shall give for the life of the world” (John 6:51).

            Jesus said, “For as the Father raises the dead and gives life to them, even so the Son gives life to whom He will” (John 5:21); and again, “This is the will of the Father who sent Me, that of all He has given Me I should lose nothing, but should raise it up at the last day” (John 6:39). He also said, “Whoever eats My flesh and drinks My blood has eternal life, and I will raise him up at the last day” (John 6:54), and “As the living Father sent Me, and I live because of the Father, so he who feeds on Me will live because of Me. This is the bread which came down from heaven—not as your fathers ate the manna, and are dead. He who eats this bread will live forever” (John 6:57-58). Jesus thus promised to give eternal life to those who obey God’s word.

The Hope of Resurrection and the Duty of Saints

            Paul was infuriated upon hearing that some of the members of the Corinthian Church denied the resurrection and wrote as if rebuking them loudly. ‘Now if Christ is preached that He has been raised from the dead, how do some among you say that there is no resurrection of the dead? But if there is no resurrection of the dead, how did God raise Christ from the dead? But if God raised Christ from the dead, isn’t there the logic of the dead being raised to life? And if Christ is not risen, our faith is futile; our work is futile and we are still sinners. Then also those who have fallen asleep in Christ have perished, and Christians are of all men the most pitiable. Why are you losing the hope we have by being swayed by nonsense? Don’t be shaken! Jesus is risen from the dead, and has become the firstfruits and afterward each one in his own order; next will be our turn. You are Christ’s at His coming, I will tell you a mystery: We shall not all sleep. We will not disappear, nor lose consciousness after death; we will not remain forever in the grave, nor sleep incessantly in Paradise. We shall all be changed— in a moment, at the last trumpet. The corruptible will be raised incorruptible, and the mortal will put on immortality. For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And thus we shall always, that is, forever be with the Lord. Therefore comfort one another with these words. Spur on those who have fallen into confusion’ (1 Cor 15:12-54, 1 The 4:16-18).

            We believe in Jesus, evangelize and testify because there is resurrection. In this world we endure sufferings, give up our pleasures and wealth and willingly dedicate them. We seek the success of the Lord’s kingdom despite ourselves being poor. We even bear persecutions, and do not lose heart when we are rejected. We do not despair even when our families are overcome with trouble. Despite our anguish, we pray instead for the church, have compassion for the saints and love the souls like our own family. This is because we have been given the promise of resurrection.

            We have received the Holy Spirit whom God has poured out. We have received the testimony, ‘you will have resurrection. Just as Christ resurrected, you will also be resurrected as Christ has promised.’ Following the path the Lord has taken, we will attain the fruit of resurrection. Therefore, we need to manifest the power of resurrection through the Holy Spirit. Signs and wonders must accompany us, and thus make our hope in resurrection firm. We ought to serve the church with such hope. We have to strive to serve, dedicate and pray for the success of the church. It is only natural to serve the church, the body of Christ, if anyone desires to serve Jesus Christ.

            A reward awaits us in Heaven. Therefore, it is not for us to be regretful, fearful or disappointed. Just as Jesus has gone boldly leaving the earth behind, we will do the same. Some say that the resurrection is still a long time in coming. However, it is very near. When we take our last breath, we will be sleeping in Paradise where we cannot feel the passing of time. So if someone passes away an hour later, it will be like being faced with the resurrection an hour later.

            We need to make our hope in resurrection secure and while we are on the earth, discharge all of our duties as saints. We must have a faith life that brings success to the church, for the sake of the Lord’s kingdom. We have to receive the inspiration of the Holy Spirit and be led by God. Though the world may shake us in our hearts, we must not be swept away by it. Through the guidance of the Holy Spirit, we must be triumphant in our struggle towards the resurrection.