From Grave to Glory

We sometimes sing about the way of the cross leading home. Heaven is an idyllic destination and we sometimes have the sense that the way to Heaven should be idyllic too. But then we look around at our own lives and there is a disconnect because our lives don’t seem particularly ideal.

Rather than dismissing the destination, or pessimistically resigning ourselves to enduring the journey, we need to see more clearly what the way of the cross really looks like.

Last week, we saw the first part of that journey: from palms to thorns. In it, we say Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, blazing a trail for us by:

Experiencing Adoration

Exhibiting Passion

Enduring Examination

Wrestling Misunderstanding

Practicing Submission

Allowing Suffering

We say that the way of the cross does lead home. But that it will not be all pleasant. That is just realistic to Jesus’ experience and ours.

There is good news: what is not pleasant is also not permanent.

Introduction

What is the worst thing that could happen to you? For most people the answer is death. Of course, there are always nefarious fictional characters that will remind us that there are worse things than death. But mostly we view death as about the worst thing that could happen.

We view it badly because:

We have a sense that it will be painful

We do not understand what state, if any, it will usher us into

We believe that death is permanent

At best, most of the world placates themselves with nice sounding non-answers while they otherwise continue to live in fear.

Case in point: a couple years ago, Stephen Colbert asked Keanu Reave what he thought happened when we died. Keanu breathed deeply and then replied, “I know that when we die, the people who love us will miss us.” That is hopefully true and sounds nice. Stephen Colbert was clearly impressed by the answer, as are the commenting denizens of Youtube. But it is not an answer.

Transition

The Easter provides us with a peek behind the vail that separates this life from what lies beyond.

Illumination

The Bible Teaches Immortality

It is something we know but don’t understand

Ecclesiastes 3:11 NKJV

11 He has made everything beautiful in its time. Also He has put eternity in their hearts, except that no one can find out the work that God does from beginning to end.

It is something we hear but do not comprehend

In 1 Samuel 28, King Saul was bereft of councillors and facing dire circumstances. Despite outlawing ungodly spiritual practices and practitioners, he found himself at the house of a medium.

1 Samuel 28:11–15 NKJV

11 Then the woman said, “Whom shall I bring up for you?” And he said, “Bring up Samuel for me.” 12 When the woman saw Samuel, she cried out with a loud voice. And the woman spoke to Saul, saying, “Why have you deceived me? For you are Saul!” 13 And the king said to her, “Do not be afraid. What did you see?” And the woman said to Saul, “I saw a spirit ascending out of the earth.” 14 So he said to her, “What is his form?” And she said, “An old man is coming up, and he is covered with a mantle.” And Saul perceived that it was Samuel, and he stooped with his face to the ground and bowed down. 15 Now Samuel said to Saul, “Why have you disturbed me by bringing me up?” And Saul answered, “I am deeply distressed; for the Philistines make war against me, and God has departed from me and does not answer me anymore, neither by prophets nor by dreams. Therefore I have called you, that you may reveal to me what I should do.”

For what it’s worth, most mediums, ancient or modern, deal with a demonic familiar who feeds them information, not the actual people. Regardless, it is a practice that is sensational because it stretches our comprehension of what lies beyond death.

It is something that is rooted in who we are and how we are created

Without getting too deep into the Theological weeds, we need to understand that we do not have a soul, we are a soul. Our soul has two vehicles available to it that it uses to navigate very different environments (kind of like people who have a car for roads and a boat for lakes).

Our body is physical and is used for navigating the physical world. it is, for the time being mortal.

Our spirit is spiritual and is used for navigating the spiritual world. It is immortal.

While our bodies may die and our experience may change, we will never cease to exist.

Jesus Demonstrated Superior Immortality

Jesus was not the only person in the Bible to return from the dead.

Widow of Zaraphath’s son - raise by Elijah

Shunamite Woman’s son - raised by Elisha

Israelite man who was raised when it touched Elisha’s bones they tried to recycle his tomb)

Widow of Nain’s son - raised by Jesus

Jairus’ daughter - raised by Jesus

Lazarus - raised by Jesus

saints in Jerusalem - raised by God upon Jesus’ death

Tabitha, aka Dorcas - raised by Peter

Eutychus - raised by Paul

Jesus - who, as God, raised Himself

So what does this all mean to us?

We Will Experience Immortality

1 Corinthians 15:12–19 NKJV

12 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? 13 But if there is no resurrection of the dead, then Christ is not risen. 14 And if Christ is not risen, then our preaching is empty and your faith is also empty. 15 Yes, and we are found false witnesses of God, because we have testified of God that He raised up Christ, whom He did not raise up—if in fact the dead do not rise. 16 For if the dead do not rise, then Christ is not risen. 17 And if Christ is not risen, your faith is futile; you are still in your sins! 18 Then also those who have fallen asleep in Christ have perished. 19 If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men the most pitiable.

Conclusion

Jesus faced and conquered what we generally perceive as the worst thing that could happen to us. Because He did, we have hope—a confident expectation—that the worst thing that could happen to us may not be pleasant but it is not permanent.

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