Living Worthy of the Resurrection

In Kipling’s, The Jungle Book, Mowgli, the man cub, asks the animals what’s the most feared thing in the jungle. He’s told that when two animals meet on a narrow path that one must step aside and let the other pass. The animal that steps aside for no one would then be the most feared. Mowgli wants to know what kind of animal that would be. One tells him it’s an elephant. Another tells him it’s a lion. Finally the wise old owl exclaims, “The most feared thing in the jungle is death. It steps aside for no one.”

It doesn’t matter how physically strong you are now, one day your body will fail you and you will die.  It doesn’t matter how rich you are. You may be able to buy a few more years but someday all your money will be left to others. It doesn’t matter how many people like you, popularity or even fame cannot save you from your appointment with a grave.  Death is an absolute truth for all of us. No one is exempt from death.  Death is the most feared thing in the jungle because it will not step aside for anyone.

That statement used to be true, but it is not true anymore. Death was not the final destiny of one man. Death stepped aside for one man nearly 2,000 years ago.  Death stepped aside and Jesus Christ stepped out of a tomb into the glorious light of a new life!  And that changed everything. 

Luke 24:1-8 On the first day of the week, very early in the morning, the women took the spices they had prepared and went to the tomb.  2 They found the stone rolled away from the tomb, 3 but when they entered, they did not find the body of the Lord Jesus.  4 While they were wondering about this, suddenly two men in clothes that gleamed like lightning stood beside them.  5 In their fright the women bowed down with their faces to the ground, but the men said to them, "Why do you look for the living among the dead?  6 He is not here; he has risen! Remember how he told you, while he was still with you in Galilee:  7 'The Son of Man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men, be crucified and on the third day be raised again.'"  8 Then they remembered his words.

That is what I want to do this morning I want to remember his words.  I want to look at the words of resurrection and ask what difference do these words make for me.  The story is told of a Muslim who became a Christian. Some of his friends asked him, “Why did you become a Christian?” He answered, “Well, It’s like this. Suppose you were going down the road and suddenly the road forks in two directions and you don’t know which way to go, and there at the fork in the road are two men, one man is dead and the other alive. Which one would you ask the way to go?”  That is what I want to do this morning let’s ask the living Jesus how does your resurrection make a difference in my life today; which way should I go?
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As I reflected on that question this week, I came up with seven answers. All of which are good answers. All seven of the differences the resurrection makes in my life are significant, but, for me, one stands out above the others; one has the potential to significantly change the way I live, everyday; one jumps off the page and smacks me upside the head. But, before I say what that one is, let me ask you the question, “How does the resurrection of Jesus Christ make a difference in your life?”  Don’t answer out loud, but answer to yourself.  Now I realize I thought about this all week and you have 10 seconds. But, attempt to answer the question while I quickly list six of the seven reasons why the resurrection makes a difference in my life.

1. Death is conquered. 
I opened with this thought; death stepped aside for Jesus. Jesus conquered death. It is no longer absolute. 

1 Corinthians 15:54-57  When the perishable has been clothed with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality, then the saying that is written will come true: "Death has been swallowed up in victory."  55 "Where, O death, is your victory? Where, O death, is your sting?"  56 The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law.  57 But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.

We can now know that death is no longer final.  We know death stepped aside. As comforting as knowing death is not absolute it is not my personal main reason.

2. The message is confirmed.
Romans 1:1-4 Paul, a servant of Christ Jesus, called to be an apostle and set apart for the gospel of God--  2 the gospel he promised beforehand through his prophets in the Holy Scriptures  3 regarding his Son, who as to his human nature was a descendant of David,  4 and who through the Spirit of holiness was declared with power to be the Son of God by his resurrection from the dead: Jesus Christ our Lord.

There was a cartoon of two Roman soldiers standing by the empty tomb? The stone was rolled away and one soldier was looking very worried because they had failed to guard the tomb and keep Jesus in. But the other one shrugged and said, "Don’t worry about it. A hundred years from now, no one will remember."

But a hundred years went by and people still remembered. And 200 and 2,000 years people still remembered.  God’s people still gather and we remember. And if the Lord waits another 2,000 years before he ends it all, God’s people will still be meeting to remember, because Jesus is alive and you don’t forget something like that.  The resurrection validates who Jesus IS!

When the creepy crawlies of doubt sneak into my heart, it is the resurrection that sweeps them out and restores my faith.  But, as great as that is, and it is spectacular, knowing that Jesus was who he said he was, is not my most significant result of the resurrection.

3. Sins are forgiven.
Colossians 2:12-13   having been buried with him in baptism and raised with him through your faith in the power of God, who raised him from the dead.  13 When you were dead in your sins and in the uncircumcision of your sinful nature, God made you alive with Christ. He forgave us all our sins,

We normally associate his death on the cross as the price of forgiveness, but I think it more accurate to think of the death, burial and resurrection as a package. The death and resurrection of Jesus provides us with forgiveness of sins.  Knowing we are forgiven by the resurrection is pretty important; but still not my number one.

4.  Baptism is Symbolized.
Romans 6:3-5  Or don't you know that all of us who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death?  4 We were therefore buried with him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life.  5 If we have been united with him like this in his death, we will certainly also be united with him in his resurrection.

God in his infinite coolness – can I get an “amen” on the coolness of God - made baptism to recreate the resurrection of Jesus.  In baptism we join Jesus in his death and in baptism we join Jesus in his resurrection.  When we make the commitment to Jesus in baptism we symbolically recreate the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus.  Knowing that my baptism reenacted the very thing that saves me really does show the coolness of God, but it is still not the most powerful impact of the resurrection for me.

5. Eternal life is guaranteed.
1 Peter 1:3-4  Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,  4 and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade-- kept in heaven for you,

Because he lives, I can know I will live eternally.  I have an inheritance in heaven because of the resurrection.  “Wow, isn’t that the most significant result of the resurrection?”  It’s not there yet. But we are getting closer.

6.  Our status is changed.
Ephesians 2:4-7  But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy,  5 made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions-- it is by grace you have been saved.  6 And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus,  7 in order that in the coming ages he might show the incomparable riches of his grace, expressed in his kindness to us in Christ Jesus.

This is getting close to my number one.  From God’s perspective we, who believe in his son, are resurrected with Christ and we are sitting on the throne right beside Christ so that we will be God’s glory forever.  We are the object of his grace and kindness.  Knowing that God loves me and has changed my status from sinner to throne-sitter is transformational. Knowing that God considers me to be like his son is significant.
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Are you ready for my number one?  This is just me.  You are certainly welcome to choose a different one for yourself from these six or perhaps others.  Here is my number one.

7. The Resurrection is Power.
Romans 8:11   And if the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead is living in you, he who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through his Spirit, who lives in you.

Watch this.  The same Spirit who empowered the resurrection lives in me and makes me alive.  Resurrection is power to live. What does that mean? 

Colossians 3:1-3 Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God.  2 Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things.  3 For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God. 

Because I am raised with Christ, my heart has been changed.  My old life is dead and my new life is focused above.  The resurrection has power to change my heart.  Now I am getting to the kicker verse.   

NLT Ephesians 1:18-20  I pray that your hearts will be flooded with light so that you can understand the wonderful future he has promised to those he called. I want you to realize what a rich and glorious inheritance he has given to his people.  19 I pray that you will begin to understand the incredible greatness of his power for us who believe him. This is the same mighty power 20 that raised Christ from the dead and seated him in the place of honor at God's right hand in the heavenly realms.

Here is why I believe number 7 is the most significant.  It is more than knowledge it is power.  Now, watch this.  Each of the first six works to give us power:

The resurrection is not so much a unique historical event which happened 2,000 years ago and doesn’t make much difference on April 16, 2006. It is a daily transformational event that empowers my life to be all that God wants me to be.  The resurrection is power to live and that is why it is the most important result. 
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This year we have been talking about living worthy. We have discussed the war which is going on against our hearts. Satan wants to sneak into your heart and convince you that you are powerless and pointless.  The last thing he wanted to happen to Jesus was the resurrection.  The last thing he wants to happen in your life is for you to experience the daily transformational power of the resurrection.  The best defense against Satan is to experience the power of the resurrection.

Challenge for the week: Every morning this week, when you first wake up, imagine you are Jesus waking up on that first Easter Sunday.  Feel the power of life flowing back into your body.  Know that you are the most feared thing in the jungle because death has stepped aside for you! Feel the joy of knowing you are who you are meant to be.  Let the peace of God flow through you because your sins are gone, they have no more power over you.  Recommit your life, just like in baptism, to his service for that day. Touch the knowledge that you are an eternal being.  Know that God has in reality changed your status to be Jesus for him.  Feel the power you have to live the day to God’s glory.