Tuesday, April 1st, 2014click here for past entriesDeath and Resurrection
When Paul writes to the Corinthians about resurrection, he uses the image of a seed that is planted in the ground (1 Cor. 15:36-37). The seed dies in order to produce new life – whether wheat, or some other grain, or a different kind of plant. Without the seed dying, there can be no new life. Without death, there can be no resurrection. Yet, how many try to attain resurrection without experiencing death?
One of the things that Martin Luther often wrote about was the “old Adam” within each of us that needs to be drowned in baptism so that a new person comes to life. Another way to describe this “old Adam” is the person within us who is totally self-centered and self-absorbed – the way in which we turn in on ourselves in order to turn away from God and from others.
For Luther, this was not just a one time event at baptism, but a daily occurrence, as we lay our sin before God and receive God’s forgiveness. That self-centeredness never entirely goes away, but daily needs to be put to death in order that a new self might arise to live in Christ.
Yet, how many of us really want to have it all? How many of us cling to our self-centered ways while wanting resurrection at the same time? It is surprisingly easy for us to turn inward, whether as individuals or as a congregation. We focus on what I want or what’s good for me. We focus on what I like or on what feels comfortable. However, death is never comfortable.
Even when Jesus heals people – which we might think of as the death of their old life and the start of a new one – it seems that difficulties always ensue. Authorities get perturbed about healing on the Sabbath. Those who have begged for a living suddenly need to figure out how to live as healthy people. And more than once it seems that people can’t even recognize the blind or the lame once they no longer have their disability.
When Jesus shows up, things change. The old ways are put to death, and a new creation arises. Yet, how we love those old ways and cling to them! How we love our familiar patterns and our self-centered view of the world. How we love to be in control and to keep the Holy Spirit at bay.
Yet, God is just waiting to do a new thing. God is just waiting for us to loosen our grip and for us to stop all our worrying and fretting and just hand it all over to God. God is just waiting to breathe new life into us – waiting for us to die to ourselves in order that we might be raised to new life.
Some of us – just like Luther – need to do this many times – and what better time than the present? Let’s allow God to renew us and shape us. Let’s allow God to breathe into us the power of the Holy Spirit. Let’s allow the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ to sink deep into our souls, that we, too, might live a new life.
Sure – we would like things to be happy all the time. However, the true joy of resurrection only comes after passing through the night of darkness and sorrow. While I do not wish for you the darkness and sorrow, I would wish for you the death that leads to life. May it be a good death and a joyful resurrection!
In Christ,
Pastor Lynne Hutchison
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