Resurrection - You Get An Upgrade

The Apostles’ Creed states: "I believe … in the resurrection of the body and the life everlasting."

What I have discovered in numerous conversations with people throughout the years is - that many do not realize that there is a resurrection of the body. It genuinely surprises them that we actually get our bodies back to live forever. Most assume that when you die, your "soul" goes to heaven and that's it. But there is so much more revealed to us in the Bible about what happens when we die and what's in store for believers in Jesus.

We were created - as humans - a body-soul-spirit unity.

Death occurs when the body is separated from the soul and spirit. The Bible teaches us that this separation is temporary. Paul says in 2 Corinthians 5: "That while we are at home in the body we are away from the Lord ... and we would rather be away from the body and at home with the Lord." In Philippians 1 Paul says: "For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain ... My desire is to depart and be with Christ, for that is far better." I take away from these verses a principle: "Away from the body - At home with the Lord." Jesus said to the thief on the cross in Luke 23: "Truly, I say to you, today you will be with Me in paradise."

However, the story does not end there.

In Philippians 3 Paul says he wants to know the power of Christ's resurrection - which is Christ coming to physical life again (3.10) - an important and essential ingredient in Christian spirituality. Later on in Philippians 3 (at verse 21) Paul says: "But our citizenship is in heaven, and from it we await a Savior - the Lord Jesus Christ - who will change our lowly body to be like His glorious body, by the power which enables Him even to subject all things to Himself." … You get your body back.

Go to 1 Corinthians 15 ...!

That whole chapter is about the resurrection of the dead - Christ's and ours. Death for the believer is a temporary state of affairs. The body will not always be separated from the soul and spirit. Body, soul and spirit are brought back together at the Second Coming of Jesus.

Jesus said in John 5, "The hour is coming when all who are in the tombs will hear His voice (referring to the voice of the Son of Man - Jesus) and come forth, those who have done good, to the resurrection of life; and those who have done evil, to the resurrection of judgment." Later in Jesus' ministry (John 11) at the funeral of His good friend Lazarus, Martha said, "I know that Lazarus will rise again in the resurrection at the last day" (Resurrection is a Jewish teaching). Jesus responded, "I am the resurrection and the life; the one who believes in Me, though he die, yet shall he live; and whoever lives and believes in Me shall never die." Jesus called into Lazarus' dark grave for him to come out - demonstrating even at that time the power He had to restore human beings to human being.

When Jesus rose from the dead He was not a ghost or spirit.

He was physical - solid - alive. And one day we will be as well. Revelation 20 through 22 gives a tantalizing glimpse of what's ahead. The body we will receive will be a the body God designed for us all along ... Our bodies and minds maximized, perfected - as though untouched by disease, tragedy and sin. We will finally embody (literally) God’s perfect vision for us … whole, healed, perfect. What a promise!

People wonder - "Will I recognize my loved ones in heaven?"

Yes. You will recognize them. Why? They will be in their bodies, just as you will be in yours. You will not be stuck in an eternity surrounded by complete strangers.

Jesus was certainly known and recognized by His disciples - John 20.19-20: "Jesus came and stood among them and said 'Peace be with you.' When He had said this, He showed them His hands and His side. Then the disciples were glad when they saw the Lord." They didn’t say: "Who’s this guy and what’s he doing here?"

In the opening chapter of the Book of the Acts of the Apostles, Jesus was with His disciples for 40 days before returning bodily to the Father. Apparently, there was no contest of recognition. They knew is was Jesus. In 1 Corinthians 15 Paul relates that Jesus revealed Himself to Peter, then to the Twelve and also to James, His brother. Paul also mentions that Jesus met with a little over five hundred of His followers at one time (quite a gathering with the Resurrected Lord!). Recognizable? I should say.

April 8, the Sunday of the Resurrection - is about resurrection.

... Not new life in the Spring, flowers, bunnies, eggs, chocolate and fashion (although I like the ham dinner tradition myself ...!) Come to church with a transformed mind about your transformed body and give Jesus the praise! His victory is ours – resurrection and all.