1 Corinthians 15:35-50, February 18-24, Year C:

I realize that many of you will be using the text  this week for Transfiguration Sunday preceding Lent; but I'm preaching on the Old Testament text for this date in Year C; so I'll go ahead and give you this lesson now and then perhaps the Transfiguration epistle lesson later this week.

 

For those of you who may be new readers of my blog or who may have missed this explanation earlier, these lectionary epistle notes are included here because I also have a group on a faith-based discussion service, Ecunet, where I submit my notes on each week's lectionary epistle readings.  It was suggested some time ago that I also put the notes on my blog as a way to get people from that group to encourage others to read, and link to,  my blog.  So herewith are notes for the reading which some will use this week.

 

Christ's resurrection body was most probably in a very different form than His physical body while on earth during his natural life.  (This would explain why He was not readily recognized by the women in the garden on the morning He arose.)  The whole point of this passage seems to be that the spiritual is far more important than the physical; but that the physical is also quite real.  Again, we are brought back to the principle of dying to live.  A seed dies, and much fruit is produced.  In some ways, our future body will be like our present body; but we do not understand the process or the nature of that body.  It isn't important to understand it, but to teach and affirm the bodily resurrection of Christ for Christians in every age.

 

 

One German theologian has said that 90% of people who come to church on Easter are simply coming to see if it's really true.  They're not looking for some new or fresh way to say it, but simply to be convinced that it's real.  This could be true.  George Barna has said that his polling data suggest that even 20% of people who call themselves "born-again" Christians deny the physical resurrection of Jesus Christ!  

 

We must constantly affirm our belief in the resurrection of Christ and make clear to people--especially other Christians--that it does make a difference!  The history of the church and the faith,  consistency, and testimony of the martyrs all give ample evidence that the resurrection was understood as a real event in the apostolic era.  As the song says, That's my story, and I'm sticking to it!" We have no sound intellectual reason to do otherwise.

 

The resurrection of Christ was the ultimate challenge to the kingdom of Satan.  The resurrection is how Christ overcame sin and death; but ultimately, and even more important, sets the course for the restoration of creation.  The physical reality of the resurrection is what makes its spiritual aspects real and powerful!  It also makes our own resurrection and transformation for all eternity a definite reality.

 

We shall all be changed!  Our future body, whatever form it takes, will be complete, perfect, without disease, blemish, or limitations of disability or disfigurement.  We shall be made like Christ in order that we may reign with Christ.

 

Deny the resurrection therefore and you make the hope of eternity a hoax.  Fortunately, intellectual integrity neither requires nor encourages such a dismissive attitude.  Faith is alive!  Christ is real!  The empty tomb means just what those early disciples understood it to mean!  He is risen!

 

   

Straight ahead!  See my blog at:   www.noblindbluff.blogspot.com