14 October 2013 - signs of eternal life

14 October 2013 -  signs of (eternal) life

but established as Son of God in power
according to the Spirit of holiness
through resurrection from the dead, Jesus Christ our Lord.

Jesus is the salvation which God makes known to us.  His resurrection is the point in history where God's eternal victory becomes manifest in time.

Sing to the LORD a new song,
for he has done wondrous deeds;
His right hand has won victory for him,
his holy arm.

Jonah spends three days within a whale against his will to bring Nineveh to repentance.  But Jesus spends three days in the grave because he freely chooses to do so out of love for us.  We don't like this sign or this wisdom because it first involves the grave.  But as the whale spews forth Jonah so the grave cannot contain Jesus on the third day.  Any sign we can seek is a lesser sign than the resurrection.  There is something greater than all other signs here.  There is something more powerful than all of our doubts here. 

Earthly wisdom can sometimes lure us in.  People are quick to follow everyone from Oprah, to Richard Dawkins, to Eckhart Tolle.  But there is someone greater than Oprah here.  Jesus is greater than the combined wisdom of all others.  He is omniscient.  In him all things were made and everything holds together in him (cf. Col. 1:16).  Why will we walk to the ends of the earth to hear earthly wisdom when we shrink from the words of Jesus?  Is it because he tells us to take up our cross and follow him (cf. Luk. 9:23)?  Is it because no servant is greater than his master and where he is we must be as well (cf. Joh. 15:20)?

Without the resurrection we continue to fixate on signs which are to are liking.  We look for signs that speak of earthly pleasures and comfort.  The healings we desire are aimed at perpetuating our life in this world rather than making us more fit for our heavenly home.  Only the resurrection reveals something more lasting.  Without it we seek fleeting pleasures.  But the resurrection puts all suffering in its proper context.  It is temporary and transformative because the Spirit of holiness which raises Jesus from the dead gives life to our mortal bodies as well (cf. Rom 8:11).  Let us acknowledge the true sign which gives meaning to all we know and see.  Let us know Jesus in the power of his Spirit and sing of his victory even amidst the difficulties of this life.

Sing joyfully to the LORD, all you lands;
break into song; sing praise.