Dear Friends,
Some United Methodists believe that Jesus died on the cross and was
resurrected bodily, literally, that for a short period of time before
his ascension that his life was given back to him in the flesh, and
that this confirms the triumph over death that we share with him. In
a scientific age, many people are skeptical of the bodily resurrection.
I read somewhere the sun uses more energy in an instant than has been
generated by humans through the whole of human history. Now that is
amazing! Then think about the power of the One who created the sun. A
bodily resurrection seems pretty moderate stuff in comparison with the
creation of the vast cosmos, with its uncountable galaxies and stars. Is
raising the Body from death any more amazing than the creation of life
out of the primordial soup?
Some United Methodiats believe that the bodily resurrection is
symbolic, that a life like the life of Jesus Christ cannot be contained
by the grave. Even today 2,000 plus years later his life has the power
to raise up our lives, to give them meaning, to give us hope in a God
of Love, to give new life in the midst of suffering. These folks'
focus is a living Christ with us now. The Resurrection for them is a
Spiritual event that raises our lives that we might know life
abundant I remember a conversation I had with a friend in Seminary, who
observed, "I bet that even if there had been a videotape of the
resurrection, some people would NOT have been convinced of its reality."
My friend's point is that it is not concrete evidence that ultimately
calls folks to faith in Jesus Christ as Savior. This leads to another
question. If there is not a spiritual event to raise us to new life,
does a belief in the literal resurrection of the body, or of the dead
have any real power?
Some United Methodists don't know what they believe about the
resurrection. It is a mystery. They trust that something, which
can't be adequately explained in words, happened to the Disciples
following the crucifixion. Some saw him, some saw only an empty tomb,
some touched him (Mary and Thomas) some only sensed his presence in
the words and in a shared meal with a stranger (the Road to Emmaus,
Miraculous Catch of Fish). In all cases, the lives of the
Disciples were changed by the encounter with a Living/Risen Christ.
Some United Methodists believe that explanations are not needed.
Jesus is Savior without completely understanding the resurrection.
For these folks the life, death and teachings of Jesus may be as
important for transforming lives as the resurrection.
It is easy to major in the minors. For instance, do we have to
believe one of the above over the other to be truly Christian? I can
relate to all of the described understandings of resurrection. None
seems more or less adequate for faith. For me what is major league
is love for and devotion to Jesus Christ, a desire to follow his way
of compassion and forgiveness. What is major is to put God at the
center of our lives. For me what is major is the encouragement given
to a bedraggled band of earth folk by Jesus, who scripture tells us
was there to cook breakfast for the Disciples on the beach, who came
to them behind closed doors, came to fish with them and walk with them
down the ordinary roads they traveled. For me what is major league is
the effect Christ's life, death and resurrection has had on people.
It can loosen the grip of death upon those who believe. It has the
power to liberate people for a more expansive, risky, meaningful life
and more inclusive love. I love the scripture that promises abundant
life for all those who walk with Chirst.
I hope our Lent and Easter journey draws us closer to the amazing
God of Life and of Resurrection.