APRIL 14th, 2024 PASTOR DON PIEPER
The Corinthian Complex Heb 2:9-15/1 Cor 15:23-34
“JESUS FOOT REST”
In response to some of those in Corinth who are refuting the reality of the resurrection, Paul provides evidence of Jesus' resurrection and that since Jesus has risen from the dead, and in so doing forgiven us, we need no longer fear death. Like the Corinthians, we have a hard time letting that sink in.
When I was young, I, for one, was afraid of dying, particularly at night. That prayer kids are taught to pray didn't help. “Now I lay me down to sleep. I will not cry; I will not weep. If I should die before I wake, my soul, I pray the Lord will take.” Wait what? What does he want with that?!
One night, frightful that God was going to take my soul, whatever that is, I asked my brother, how you know that you're dying. He told me that three things happen. First, he said, you get thirsty for blood. Second, you grow hair all over your body, and third, you have an irresistible urge to lick yourself. We might've watched one too many Wolfman movies! Guess what I dreamed that night? (licking hand).
“The last enemy to be destroyed is death”, Paul writes. (1 Corinthians 15:26) Free from guilt and condemnation, should silence our fear of death. As the author of Hebrews writes: “Only by dying and rising could (Jesus) break the power of the devil, who has the power of death. Only in this way could Jesus set free all who lived their lives as slaves to the fear of dying.” (Hebrews 2:14-15)
Jesus’ resurrection points to the future for all those who are his followers. In 1 Corinthians 15 Paul declares that when Christ rose from the dead he began to reign and that he will continue to reign until “every ruler, authority and power is destroyed” and until “all God's enemies lay under his feet. The last enemy to be destroyed is death.” (1 Corinthians 15:24-26)
Timothy Keller writes: “Jesus' kingly triumph over death is partially – but not fully – here and now. Even though we still must physically die, death cannot separate us from God and his love for us. In fact, death can only enhance our experience of the love and joy of God's presence. For those who believe in the risen Christ, death is defanged, (like a toothless werewolf). It can not separate you from God's love. On the contrary, it can only bring you to encounter more love than you can imagine.” (From Timothy Keller's Hope In Times of Fear)
It’s precisely what so many who've had a near death experience say is the main reason why they didn't want to come back to this life.
NDE Researcher, Steve Miller, said of his own experience: “I went through a dark, black tunnel only to come into the presence of an extremely bright light. It, He, contained such warmth and beauty and I found myself immersed in a feeling of total love. From the moment the light spoke to me, I felt SO good – secure and loved. The love was so unimaginable, indescribable. He was such a fun person to be with too. I never wanted to leave the presence of this being! I didn't want to go back.”
Jesus' resurrection also frees us from other 'authorities' that would enslave us. In his letter to the church in Colossae, Paul writes: “Having canceled our debt, which stood against us and condemned us.., and having disarmed the powers and authorities, he made a public spectacle of them.” (Colossians 2:14-15)
Jesus canceled our debt through his death on the cross but in his rising from the dead he put all the powers of this world that work against us on public notice. Anything in which we look for significance or security, meaning or identity, is a power that essentially controls us.
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“Whatever controls us is really our god.... The one who seeks power is controlled by power. The one who seeks acceptance is controlled by the opinions of those they seek to please. We do not control ourselves. We are controlled by the lord of our life, whatever that might be.” (Rebecca Pippert)
Other powers might include prosperity, sexuality, technology or a popular ideology. Each of these can become a 'power and authority' in our lives. The more we look to them for happiness, significance or security the more they enslave us. The resurrection brings the power to live free of them.
The Jews looked to a messiah to vanquish their earthly enemies, such as the Romans, but the enemies of God are those which cause us to doubt God's love for us or rely on false gods for those things we crave – identity, security and significance. The resurrection redirects us to our future - “In the end, He will turn the Kingdom over to Father God, having destroyed every ruler and authority!” (1 Corinthians 15:24)
Elsewhere Paul makes it clear that God the Father and God the Son are equal, but each has distinct roles to play in their sovereignty over heaven and earth. Jesus' role is to defeat God's enemies – those of sin (defeated on the cross), death (thru the resurrection) and evil (upon Jesus' return). It's his job to one day present the Father with a perfect and beautifully redeemed creation. It will be Jesus' great gift to the Father, just as the Father's great gift to him was raising him from the dead and in so doing, making him king over all that God created. As Paul puts it, “God, who gave His Son authority over all things, will be utterly supreme over everything everywhere!” (1 Corinthians 15:28)
“The resurrection means that we do not merely follow the teachings of a dead leader. Rather, we have a vital, loving fellowship with a living Lord. By his Spirit, Jesus the King is present with us!” (Timothy Keller)
The human library is full of legends of great kings who brought a golden age. The Robin Hood legend is about holding the fort until the true king returns, Richard the Lionheart. What's not to love about a king with a name like that? The Lord of the Rings concludes with the Return of the King, a humble king whose reign begins with the destruction of evil and the restoration of justice & peace. On King Arthur's tomb is written: 'Here lies Arthur, the once and future king'. The promise is that this good king, who brought to life one brief shining moment of Camelot, would return to make things right.
The odd thing about these legends is that the actual record of kings in history is dismal. There is a track record of tyranny, malice and gluttony. In America, we don't have a king, so we idolize our heroes and put them on the thrones of our collective imagination – heroes of film, sports and politics. This need to crown heroes and celebrities is toxic both for those being adulated and those adulating.
Paul is clear: Jesus is no legend. He is the one true King, who was put on the throne not by our wishful longings, but by the Creator/Father of the cosmos. “The rightful king has risen to the occasion, in disguise, and calls us to take part in a great campaign of sabotage against the forces of darkness!” (from C.S. Lewis' Mere Christianity)
In his opening book to The Chronicles of Narnia, C.S. Lewis tells of a conversation in which the Pevensie children are told of Aslan, the Great Lion of Judah, Lewis' Christ character in his book:
“It's no good you trying on your own,” said Mr. Beaver, “but now that Aslan is on the move...”
“Oh yes! Tell us about Aslan!” said several voices at once; for once again that strange feeling – like the first signs of spring after a long winter, like good news, had come over them. 'Who is Alsan?'
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“Aslan?” said Mr. Beaver. 'Why, don't you know? He's the King. He's the Lord of the whole wood, but not often here, you understand. Never in my time or my father's time, but the word has reached us that he has come back. He's in Narnia at this very moment. He'll settle (the evil one) all right. It is he, not you, that will save your friend, Mr. Tumnus. He'll put all to right, as it says in an old rhyme: 'Wrong will be right, when Aslan comes in sight. At the sound of his roar, sorrows will be no more; when he bares his teeth, winter meet's its death, and when he shakes his mane, we shall have spring again.' How so? Because Aslan is the son of the great emperor beyond the Sea.” (from C.S. Lewis' The Lion, The Witch and the Wardrobe)
If you know the story, this Great Lion of Judah, the Son of the Great emperor, goes on to lay down his life for one of them, only to rise again to vanquish the evil one. And having defeated death He calls them to take part in a great campaign of sabotage against the forces of darkness!
Imagine the implications for children of the resurrection. For one thing, we are called to live courageous lives, free of the fear of death. Paul uses himself as an example of the same: “Why should we risk our lives? I face death daily. What value was there in fighting wild beasts in Ephesus, my adversaries there, if there will be no resurrection from the dead?” (1 Corinthians 15:30-32)
His point? Embracing the hope of the resurrection means to live thru courageous living, witnessing to the good news that spring has sprung, that winter has run its course! In Acts 19 Luke makes no mention of Paul fighting lions in the arena in Ephesus, nor of his even being put in jail, but he did face harsh resistance from those who thought his message was madness.
Paul mentions this resistance and his willingness to take risks for the gospel because he wants them to see the impact of Jesus' resurrection for the way we live. We should be fearless. If we really believe Jesus rose from the dead, then we know that death is not the final word, nor is it the worst that can happen to us. To the contrary, it brings us into the very presence of God.
Another implication of the resurrection is that it should inspire in us moral living. To drive home this point, Paul quotes the Greek Epicurean philosophers and poets: “If there is no resurrection, then 'Let's feast and drink, for tomorrow we die!' Don't be fooled by those who say such things...! Think carefully about what is right and stop sinning.” (1 Corinthians 15:32-34)
If you think this is all there is, you'll be subject to all manner of depravity and immorality. But this isn't all there is. What's more this is all temporary. What follows is eternal. We'd do well to live lives that reveal that we trust Jesus at his word and believe we'll meet him in person, because he rose from the dead, and if the NDE accounts are credible, he'll review our life asking us, did you love me...? Was it obvious to others that you know me, and in knowing my heart, loved others as I love you?
Calvin and Hobbes are walking through the words when Calvin shares his Corinthian mindset:
'Live for the moment' is my motto. You never know how long you've got! You could step into the road tomorrow and – Wham – you get hit by a cement truck! Then you'd be sorry you put off your pleasures! That's why I say 'live for the moment'. What's your motto, Hobbes? 'Look down the road.'
Hobbe's motto, is that which Paul is trying to impress upon the followers of Christ. Look down the road, not merely to see if any trucks are coming, but to realize that Jesus rising from the dead means that all those who love him & follow his teaching/role modeling of loving God by loving other people, will one day be raised from the dead as well. We should look like resurrected people now, free of fearing death and free of the false kings of this world, looking down the road for security and meaning!
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After all, all those false kings we commit so much of our time and resources to, will one day, down the road, be the very footstool Jesus rests his feet upon! “For Christ must reign until He humbles all his enemies beneath his feet. And the last enemy to be destroyed is death!” (1 Corinthians 15:25-26)
Thanks be to God!