Will you recognise me?
The gospel, the good news message of Jesus, wasn't just preached by him but embodied by him. It's message resonated with 3 clear images: death, burial and resurrection.
In our baptism we echo the same pattern and so too our discipleship leads us through the way of death, burial and resurrection - constantly!
In so doing we become gospel as our lives repeatedly experience death and loss. The searing pain of finality can be experienced through the burial of normality (Covid-19), a broken relationship, a lost job and even the deconstruction of some parts of our theology and practice. The burial is brutal because we are left with the empty finality of it. Yet, even in the most bereft of burials there is a hope, though it maybe at its most diminished it is not yet extinguished, why? Because even in Sheol, in the depths of hell, Christ has taken its keys so that the place of burial and loss is now under the realm and rulership of Christ.
Ephesians 4 :7
and gave gifts to his people.”
9 (What does “he ascended” mean except that he also descended to the lower, earthly regions (hell/sheol)? 10 He who descended is the very one who ascended higher than all the heavens, in order to fill the whole universe.)
The realm of the dead is the possession of Christ because he now fills all things.
In resurrection we are led out by Christ from the realm of death and the place of burial.
For those that have experienced 'death' and been captive in that place the good news is that there is no abandonment even in death and burial. It is under the realm of Christ and he will come to lead us out, restore, renew, resurrect!
However have you noticed something about those that go on this personal, existential journey - those that go to hell and back? The resurrected you is not the same!
Losing my elder brother and dad within 6 months was a journey to hell and back - but here Christ invaded and lifted me out launching me into a greater depth of Abba's love.
The resurrected Jonathan was changed - I had one life to live. Life is short. I stopped living in fear and faced those fears head on. People didn't recognise me - they thought I was having a mid-life crisis, a breakdown, but Abba had promised me that if I faced my fears and lost everything I would never be abandoned or alone.
Within 9 months of resurrection I took a decision to preserve my life, knowing full well that it would bring with it death and a burial that would last years - ministry gone, reputation tarnished, friendships broken, family lost - this was a journey to hell.
But like Christ I've found myself waking up in a new garden and a renewed me has emerged but will people recognise me?
A transformation took place in the body of Jesus that sometimes made it difficult for even his closet followers to recognise.
I like to think that having gone through all of this I'm a little stronger, little wiser, less judgmental and more gracious than I was before. I'm certainly less afraid of death because I've experienced so much it and a lessening of fear in our lives is a great thing. It will be interesting to see what others see in me as the days and weeks progress.
So, if you are in the place of Sheol, that place of loss and burial, remember you have not been abandoned...death, burial, sheol is now the domain of Christ and he will lead you and all the other captives out from within it and more than that transform you in the process.
I can't wait to see the new resurrected you! I wonder if I'll recognise you?
In our baptism we echo the same pattern and so too our discipleship leads us through the way of death, burial and resurrection - constantly!
In so doing we become gospel as our lives repeatedly experience death and loss. The searing pain of finality can be experienced through the burial of normality (Covid-19), a broken relationship, a lost job and even the deconstruction of some parts of our theology and practice. The burial is brutal because we are left with the empty finality of it. Yet, even in the most bereft of burials there is a hope, though it maybe at its most diminished it is not yet extinguished, why? Because even in Sheol, in the depths of hell, Christ has taken its keys so that the place of burial and loss is now under the realm and rulership of Christ.
Ephesians 4 :7
7 But to each one of us grace has been given as Christ apportioned it. 8 This is why it[a] says:
“When he ascended on high,
he took many captivesand gave gifts to his people.”
The realm of the dead is the possession of Christ because he now fills all things.
In resurrection we are led out by Christ from the realm of death and the place of burial.
For those that have experienced 'death' and been captive in that place the good news is that there is no abandonment even in death and burial. It is under the realm of Christ and he will come to lead us out, restore, renew, resurrect!
However have you noticed something about those that go on this personal, existential journey - those that go to hell and back? The resurrected you is not the same!
Losing my elder brother and dad within 6 months was a journey to hell and back - but here Christ invaded and lifted me out launching me into a greater depth of Abba's love.
The resurrected Jonathan was changed - I had one life to live. Life is short. I stopped living in fear and faced those fears head on. People didn't recognise me - they thought I was having a mid-life crisis, a breakdown, but Abba had promised me that if I faced my fears and lost everything I would never be abandoned or alone.
Within 9 months of resurrection I took a decision to preserve my life, knowing full well that it would bring with it death and a burial that would last years - ministry gone, reputation tarnished, friendships broken, family lost - this was a journey to hell.
But like Christ I've found myself waking up in a new garden and a renewed me has emerged but will people recognise me?
A transformation took place in the body of Jesus that sometimes made it difficult for even his closet followers to recognise.
I like to think that having gone through all of this I'm a little stronger, little wiser, less judgmental and more gracious than I was before. I'm certainly less afraid of death because I've experienced so much it and a lessening of fear in our lives is a great thing. It will be interesting to see what others see in me as the days and weeks progress.
So, if you are in the place of Sheol, that place of loss and burial, remember you have not been abandoned...death, burial, sheol is now the domain of Christ and he will lead you and all the other captives out from within it and more than that transform you in the process.
I can't wait to see the new resurrected you! I wonder if I'll recognise you?
Me again. May I be practical in a proof reader-ish way?
ReplyDelete1. Do you mean closet or closest?
2. Punctuation should be applied as though the text is to be read aloud.
'...it is not yet extinguished. Why?'
Nit-picking again? Probably. But you want to communicate with clarity and impact your reader so he will think. The easier it is for him to 'hear' you, the better.
There are other points in the text that would benefit from sharpening up your punctuation!
But I still love you, dear brother-in-law!!
I would expect nothing less lol.
DeleteI was going to mention closet also you missed an " of " out in the bit about experiencing death. You also mentioned your name, not sure if you wanted to do that. I was a deep one, but I get it.
ReplyDeleteI missed a t out lol
ReplyDelete