In Becky MacDonald’s recent Women at Risk newsletter, she had this to say about the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead:
Flipped “The resurrection calls us to ‘flip everything on its head’ by elevating and honoring those the world looks down on. It defies both science and the law. A perfect man willingly took a criminal’s shameful death and ushered in the beginning of all things made new. It turned the ‘law’ on its head by holding us to a higher standard where hate equals murder and lust equals adultery. It requires a new justice . . . love our enemies, the first becomes last, the poor inherit, pride is opposed, the humble lifted, grace replaces striving, weakness equals strength, and brokenness equals opportunity for God’s glory. The upside-down message of Christ’s life is get used to different.”
Personal and Now In our pastor’s Easter message, he quoted Got Questions.org as having written:
“Jesus’ statement that He is the resurrection and the life [John 11:25] provides a godly perspective on several spiritual matters. Martha believed that the resurrection is an event; Jesus showed her [and us] that the resurrection is a Person. Martha’s knowledge of eternal life was an abstract idea; Jesus proved that knowledge of eternal life is a personal relationship. Martha thought victory over death was a future expectation; Jesus corrects her, showing that victory is a present reality.”
Each of those thoughts deserves a few words:
- Event vs. Person Martha believed that the resurrection is an event; Jesus showed her (and us) that the resurrection is a Person. One can’t hug an event, but one could hug a Person (Jesus Christ). An event is can be emotional, but a Person is more apt to have a warm and welcoming tone connecting with you. A Person! Not some impersonal, never-see-them-in-person technology. Not some worldly value structure with its false glitter, but a Human-Being, the God-Man
- Abstract idea vs. personal relationship Martha’s knowledge of eternal life was an abstract idea; Jesus responded that knowledge of eternal life is a personal relationship. Abstract ideas do not compare with a personal relationship. Abstract ideas leave one cold, but a personal relationship can be nourishment to the soul. Abstract ideas are vague, but a personal relationship is individualized, now, hands-on and immediate.
- Future expectation vs. present event Martha thought victory over death was a future expectation; Jesus corrected
her, showing that victory is a present reality. “I am the resurrection” is present tense. A time factor (“. . . at the last day; v. 24) was left to Martha to supply. For Martha, believing Lazarus would be resurrected later was not very encouraging because her brother still lay in the icy embrace of death. Jesus Christ can give life at any time; He is not bound by waiting until a person dies.
The resurrection of Jesus Christ broke Satan’s back, shattering his death-grip on the throat of humanity. The God-Man atoned for us by becoming sin for us, making it righteously possible for God to forgive human sin while still maintaining His justice. That the atonement was full and final was shown by the Father when He resurrected Jesus Christ from the dead (I Peter 1:21).
Jesus Christ drew Martha’s attention to His lordship over death by saying, “. . . whoever lives and believes in Me will never die” (v. 25). Lazarus did physically die, but he did not die in the sense of being separated from the Source of life.
Have you gotten His intended benefit? Have your given your will to the One who gave it to you? Have you experienced the resurrection power that accompanies salvation? If not, it awaits!
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