1 Corinthians 15:19-26
1 Kerrisdale Presbyterian Church “More Than A Little Inspiration” Scripture: 1 Corinthians 15:19-26; Luke 24:1-12; Psalm 118:1-2, 14-24 Hymns: Jesus Christ is risen today 243; Jesus is risen from the grave 254 (1-5); This joyful Eastertide 259, The strife is o’er, the battle done 257; Sing amen 264 March 27, 2016 Good Friday Rev. Steve Filyk Do you have a bucket list? A list of achievements You’d like to accomplish before you ‘kick the bucket’? Before you die? “In 1940, when John Goddard was 15, he made a list of everything he wanted to achieve. There were 127 goals in all, which included: visit every country in the world; explore the Great Barrier Reef; watch a cremation ceremony in Bali; milk a poisonous snake; and visit the Moon. Some goals were bundled together. Number 113… reads: "Become proficient in the use of a plane, motorcycle, tractor, surfboard, rifle, pistol, canoe, microscope, football, basketball, bow and arrow, lariat and boomerang." There is a tick beside this one, marking it as done, as there is beside 109 of those original goals. And in the years since, he has set himself hundreds more, writing them down as a form of commitment.”i
So do you have a bucket list? Have you thought of making one? If you go to bucketlist.org you’ll find load of ideas: Eat pasta in Italy, Ride a camel in the desert, Camp out at the beach. These lists express a desire to live purposefully, intentionally: To ‘take life by the horns.’ These lists also carry a sense of urgency And maybe a hint of desperation: ‘Life is short so you better act quickly. Eat, drink, be merry… For tomorrow we die.’ But Easter, Easter challenges this message. At Easter we hear that life is longer than we might imagine. And that death is denied the final word. Let me give you a short synopsis of the Easter story. At the crack of dawn A group of women come to Jesus’ tomb To apply spices and ointment to his dead body. Whether this is meant as a demonstration Of honor and respect Or out of necessity to finalize the rite of burial We do not know. But when they arrived at the tomb They do not find what they expect. The stone is rolled away. When they enter the tomb, There is no body.
2 While standing puzzling over what has happened Two men with light cascading over them Tell them that Jesus has been raised up; And that this was just as he foretold. The women rush off to break this news to their friends. And these friends have a hard time believing it. But Peter runs to the tomb to check things out For himself.
Many of us have experienced This new life of Christ In one way or another. In worship or in prayer, New life seeps into our system, Changing our attitudes and desires, Reforming our character into the likeness of Christ.
All he sees in the tomb are grave clothes, no body. He too is puzzled.
My sister recently had a profound encounter with God. She tells me that everything has changed. It’s like she’s been given a second chance.
What becomes clear to the disciples over the next number of weeks Through various post-resurrection appearances Is that Jesus is not dead, that Jesus is risen.
But this new life Paul is talking about Goes beyond our sanctification, the renewal of our character. Paul speaks of Jesus’ bodily resurrection as an event That will be experience by us all.
This is a profound discovery for those disciples Who have spent three years following Jesus. And it is a profound discovery for those of us Who would follow Jesus today.
The metaphor he uses is that of “first fruits,” an image drawn from the Old Testament where that which was first harvested symbolized the full harvest that was to come later
But what on earth does it mean? How is life different since Jesus came back from the dead?
…[Paul argues that Jesus] was the first full plant to spring forth from the ground, the sure sign that others would spring to life in due course.”iv
In our epistle reading the Apostle Paul helps us unpack The implications of the resurrection. For Paul, the events of Easter Are of no little significance. For Paul, Easter alters the very fabric of life. Paul speaks of Easter as a great reversal. “The resurrection of Christ begins to reverse the sullen condition of the human race.”ii In Paul’s words: “as all die in Adam, so all will be made alive in Christ.”iii
Paul wants us to know that resurrection, Life after life and death, was not just a one-off, But a promise awaiting all of us. In the words of Jesus: “Those who believe in me, Even though they die, will live, And everyone who lives and believes in me will never die.”v But this new life Goes beyond the resurrection of our individual bodies It includes the renewal and restoration of all things.
3 Paul tells us that Easter is the sign that Christ will defeat “every rule And every authority and power.”vi That Christ will hand all things over to the Father. For Paul “What Easter [promises] is not that all battles have been fought and won, but that God’s power has assured that the final victory will belong to God.”vii Because of the resurrection We have confidence that the peaceable kingdom That the prophets spoke about That Jesus preached about: A kingdom where lions lie down with lambs Where the poor have a seat at the table Will one day be realised. This is more than a little inspiration. The implications of Easter have the power To literally change the way we live. You may still want to fly in a hot-air balloon Or run with the bulls at Pamplona, But the promises of Easter frees us from the need To have to cram our lives with every thrill and excitement Fearing that the circus will soon be leaving town. Easter might persuade you to relax a little Even ‘waste’ your time. Maybe go for a walk, read a book, watch a basketball game. Easter might persuade you to give yourself to things That in the world’s eyes are not so significant: serve at a soup kitchen Or visit an elderly friend. Knowing that the life God has given us Stretches on into eternity;
Knowing that our world is destined for good; Has the ability to loosen the grip That anxiety and fear hold on us. Of course we need to open our lives to this promise. Let it sink into the very core of our being. Living in northern British Columbia, I made the trip between Prince George to Edmonton Numerous times. It is a long haul, especially on the BC side of the journey. Not much to see except lots and lots of trees. But one hour west of Jasper You might encounter an incredible sight, One of the most amazing views in the Rockies. I say ‘might’ Because if you’re on this journey It’s only half-way and you’re likely Focused on getting further down the road. I say ‘might’ Because the roads are narrow And the highway runs alongside the mountain And it’s hard to look up when you are driving. I say ‘might’ Because you’ll be on high altitude roads, And the clouds will sometimes obscure the view. Of course there are signs And there is park with a rest-stop alongside the highway. It affords the opportunity to take in it all in. And what a view! As one reviewer on TripAdvisor noted:
4 “Our tour group stopped for lunch that cloudy September day. Leaving the café, I saw a group of people pointing to the sky— probably an eagle, I thought. [But when I looked I saw that} The sun had broken through the clouds and there was Mount Robson, the Matterhorn-like mountaintop that is the highest peak in the Canadian Rockies. Breathtaking...”viii
Maybe this Easter God is calling you To linger at the empty tomb To reflect on what was accomplished for you And for the world. May God give us the grace To see his goodness. Christ is risen. He is risen indeed.
I don’t know how many times I drove past Mount Robson Before I really stopped to see it.
Amen.
i
v
Kira Cochrane “Bucket lists: are they a good idea?” 26 September 2012 www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2012/sep/26/bucket-lists-are-they-good-idea ii Daniel J. Price “1 Corinthians 15:19-26, Sixth Sunday after the Epiphany, Year C” The Lectionary Commentary: Acts and the Epistles 222 iii iv
1 Corinthians 15:22 NRSV Fred B. Craddock et al Preaching through the Christian Year “Easter Day” 224
John 11:26 NRSV 1 Corinthians 15:24 NRSV vii Walter Brueggemann Editor et al Texts for Preaching Year C “1 Corinthians 15:19– 26” viii Review of Dean M. on TripAdvisor “Highest peak in Canadian Rockies” www.tripadvisor.ca/Attraction_Review-g659487-d878486-ReviewsMount_Robson_Provincial_Park-Canadian_Rockies_Alberta.html vi
So do you have a bucket list? Have you thought of making one? If you go to bucketlist.org you’ll find load of ideas: Eat pasta in Italy, Ride a camel in the desert, Camp out at the beach. These lists express a desire to live purposefully, intentionally: To ‘take life by the horns.’ These lists also carry a sense of urgency And maybe a hint of desperation: ‘Life is short so you better act quickly. Eat, drink, be merry… For tomorrow we die.’ But Easter, Easter challenges this message. At Easter we hear that life is longer than we might imagine. And that death is denied the final word. Let me give you a short synopsis of the Easter story. At the crack of dawn A group of women come to Jesus’ tomb To apply spices and ointment to his dead body. Whether this is meant as a demonstration Of honor and respect Or out of necessity to finalize the rite of burial We do not know. But when they arrived at the tomb They do not find what they expect. The stone is rolled away. When they enter the tomb, There is no body.
2 While standing puzzling over what has happened Two men with light cascading over them Tell them that Jesus has been raised up; And that this was just as he foretold. The women rush off to break this news to their friends. And these friends have a hard time believing it. But Peter runs to the tomb to check things out For himself.
Many of us have experienced This new life of Christ In one way or another. In worship or in prayer, New life seeps into our system, Changing our attitudes and desires, Reforming our character into the likeness of Christ.
All he sees in the tomb are grave clothes, no body. He too is puzzled.
My sister recently had a profound encounter with God. She tells me that everything has changed. It’s like she’s been given a second chance.
What becomes clear to the disciples over the next number of weeks Through various post-resurrection appearances Is that Jesus is not dead, that Jesus is risen.
But this new life Paul is talking about Goes beyond our sanctification, the renewal of our character. Paul speaks of Jesus’ bodily resurrection as an event That will be experience by us all.
This is a profound discovery for those disciples Who have spent three years following Jesus. And it is a profound discovery for those of us Who would follow Jesus today.
The metaphor he uses is that of “first fruits,” an image drawn from the Old Testament where that which was first harvested symbolized the full harvest that was to come later
But what on earth does it mean? How is life different since Jesus came back from the dead?
…[Paul argues that Jesus] was the first full plant to spring forth from the ground, the sure sign that others would spring to life in due course.”iv
In our epistle reading the Apostle Paul helps us unpack The implications of the resurrection. For Paul, the events of Easter Are of no little significance. For Paul, Easter alters the very fabric of life. Paul speaks of Easter as a great reversal. “The resurrection of Christ begins to reverse the sullen condition of the human race.”ii In Paul’s words: “as all die in Adam, so all will be made alive in Christ.”iii
Paul wants us to know that resurrection, Life after life and death, was not just a one-off, But a promise awaiting all of us. In the words of Jesus: “Those who believe in me, Even though they die, will live, And everyone who lives and believes in me will never die.”v But this new life Goes beyond the resurrection of our individual bodies It includes the renewal and restoration of all things.
3 Paul tells us that Easter is the sign that Christ will defeat “every rule And every authority and power.”vi That Christ will hand all things over to the Father. For Paul “What Easter [promises] is not that all battles have been fought and won, but that God’s power has assured that the final victory will belong to God.”vii Because of the resurrection We have confidence that the peaceable kingdom That the prophets spoke about That Jesus preached about: A kingdom where lions lie down with lambs Where the poor have a seat at the table Will one day be realised. This is more than a little inspiration. The implications of Easter have the power To literally change the way we live. You may still want to fly in a hot-air balloon Or run with the bulls at Pamplona, But the promises of Easter frees us from the need To have to cram our lives with every thrill and excitement Fearing that the circus will soon be leaving town. Easter might persuade you to relax a little Even ‘waste’ your time. Maybe go for a walk, read a book, watch a basketball game. Easter might persuade you to give yourself to things That in the world’s eyes are not so significant: serve at a soup kitchen Or visit an elderly friend. Knowing that the life God has given us Stretches on into eternity;
Knowing that our world is destined for good; Has the ability to loosen the grip That anxiety and fear hold on us. Of course we need to open our lives to this promise. Let it sink into the very core of our being. Living in northern British Columbia, I made the trip between Prince George to Edmonton Numerous times. It is a long haul, especially on the BC side of the journey. Not much to see except lots and lots of trees. But one hour west of Jasper You might encounter an incredible sight, One of the most amazing views in the Rockies. I say ‘might’ Because if you’re on this journey It’s only half-way and you’re likely Focused on getting further down the road. I say ‘might’ Because the roads are narrow And the highway runs alongside the mountain And it’s hard to look up when you are driving. I say ‘might’ Because you’ll be on high altitude roads, And the clouds will sometimes obscure the view. Of course there are signs And there is park with a rest-stop alongside the highway. It affords the opportunity to take in it all in. And what a view! As one reviewer on TripAdvisor noted:
4 “Our tour group stopped for lunch that cloudy September day. Leaving the café, I saw a group of people pointing to the sky— probably an eagle, I thought. [But when I looked I saw that} The sun had broken through the clouds and there was Mount Robson, the Matterhorn-like mountaintop that is the highest peak in the Canadian Rockies. Breathtaking...”viii
Maybe this Easter God is calling you To linger at the empty tomb To reflect on what was accomplished for you And for the world. May God give us the grace To see his goodness. Christ is risen. He is risen indeed.
I don’t know how many times I drove past Mount Robson Before I really stopped to see it.
Amen.
i
v
Kira Cochrane “Bucket lists: are they a good idea?” 26 September 2012 www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2012/sep/26/bucket-lists-are-they-good-idea ii Daniel J. Price “1 Corinthians 15:19-26, Sixth Sunday after the Epiphany, Year C” The Lectionary Commentary: Acts and the Epistles 222 iii iv
1 Corinthians 15:22 NRSV Fred B. Craddock et al Preaching through the Christian Year “Easter Day” 224
John 11:26 NRSV 1 Corinthians 15:24 NRSV vii Walter Brueggemann Editor et al Texts for Preaching Year C “1 Corinthians 15:19– 26” viii Review of Dean M. on TripAdvisor “Highest peak in Canadian Rockies” www.tripadvisor.ca/Attraction_Review-g659487-d878486-ReviewsMount_Robson_Provincial_Park-Canadian_Rockies_Alberta.html vi
