Daily Scripture: 1 Corinthians 15:3 For among the first things I passed on to you was what I also received, namely this: the Messiah died for our sins, in accordance with what the Tanakh says; 4 and he was buried; and he was raised on the third day, in accordance with what the Tanakh says; 5 and he was seen by Kefa, then by the Twelve; 6 and afterwards he was seen by more than five hundred brothers at one time, the majority of whom are still alive, though some have died. 7 Later he was seen by Ya‘akov, then by all the emissaries; 8 and last of all he was seen by me, even though I was born at the wrong time.
12 But if it has been proclaimed that the Messiah has been raised from the dead, how is it that some of you are saying there is no such thing as a resurrection of the dead? 13 If there is no resurrection of the dead, then the Messiah has not been raised; 14 and if the Messiah has not been raised, then what we have proclaimed is in vain; also your trust is in vain;
51 Look, I will tell you a secret — not all of us will die! But we will all be changed! 52 It will take but a moment, the blink of an eye, at the final shofar. For the shofar will sound, and the dead will be raised to live forever, and we too will be changed. 53 For this material which can decay must be clothed with imperishability, this which is mortal must be clothed with immortality. 54 When what decays puts on imperishability and what is mortal puts on immortality, then this passage in the Tanakh will be fulfilled:
“Death is swallowed up in victory.[1 Corinthians 15:54 Isaiah 25:8]
55 “Death, where is your victory?
Death, where is your sting?”[1 Corinthians 15:55 Hosea 13:14]
Reflection Questions:
In the first part of this chapter, the apostle Paul insisted to the Christians of Corinth (some of whom were still drawn to Greek philosophy that denied Jesus' resurrection—see Acts 17:32) that Jesus' victory over death was central to their whole faith. In verses 51-55, he looked to the future. Based on Jesus' victory, he boldly proclaimed a divine victory so comprehensive that death itself would be “swallowed up,” and would be no more.- In the face of death, we often use “fight” words, saying things like “she lost the battle.” Paul quoted the prophet Hosea to deny that death “wins”: “Where is your victory, Death?” (cf. Hosea 13:14) For Christians, death is not a defeat, but a transition into a new phase of our victorious walk with Christ. Does the thought of death cause you fear and anxiety? How can internalizing the message that, in Christ, death NEVER wins give you greater peace?
- Death does separate us from those who die, and that hurts—we miss our loved ones. But in verse 54, Paul said we’ll receive a body that can't die. Thanks to Jesus, Christians know this separation is only temporary! We believe God will reunite all of God’s children. Have you felt the sting of separation death causes? How does the hope that comes from Christ's victory over death help you to honor the sting of separation from those who die without letting it paralyze you?
Lord Jesus, you went where most of us most dread going—the realm of death—and you emerged victorious! Help me claim your victory, and live and die in the calm assurance of your eternal love and life. Amen.Insights from Ginger Rothhaas
Ginger Rothhaas is a seminary student at Saint Paul School of Theology and is serving in Congregational Care at the Church of the Resurrection.
The scriptures for today are from Paul’s letter to the Corinthians trying to explain how Jesus’ resurrection casts light on what we humans have struggled with for all of history…death and what happens after death.
As part of my role as a seminary student and Pastoral Intern here at Resurrection, I make hospital visits on Thursdays. Last week I visited a woman who, according to hospice, had a short time left to live. I assumed she would be sleeping deeply, but instead she was awake and able to talk with me.
I anointed her forehead and prayed for her. With tears in her eyes, she held eye contact with me and our conversation was this:
She said, “I see light and friends….and they are all happy, they are happy with me.”
Me: “Who do you see?”
She: “I see them all, they are smiling….will you ask them if I did a good job?”
Me: “Yes, but I can’t see them like you can see them. I know that you did a good job. They love you. God loves you.”
She: “I am so glad they are happy. Lots of light. Everyone is happy.”
At that moment, I realized she was looking into my eyes, but she wasn’t. It was like she was looking through me to something beyond where I sat. I even turned my head to look behind me, just to make sure there was nothing there. Nothing I could see.
I was so comforted by this conversation. I felt that what she was experiencing was real and palpable. I believe she was seeing where she is headed next.
I share this with you because part of the reason I started into seminary is because I had lots of big questions. I needed to dive into the study of finding answers, or at least a better understanding.
In all of my education, that moment, in that hospice chair, with my beloved new friend, was the ultimate learning. And the gift to me, was that she described what she was seeing. My relatives weren’t able to talk with me near their time of death and I couldn’t hear what they were experiencing. But, she gifted me with this description that assures me there is more.
I have no doubt there is something more, there is a place we are going, and it is filled with light and friends.
I am counting on it.
The scriptures for today are from Paul’s letter to the Corinthians trying to explain how Jesus’ resurrection casts light on what we humans have struggled with for all of history…death and what happens after death.
As part of my role as a seminary student and Pastoral Intern here at Resurrection, I make hospital visits on Thursdays. Last week I visited a woman who, according to hospice, had a short time left to live. I assumed she would be sleeping deeply, but instead she was awake and able to talk with me.
I anointed her forehead and prayed for her. With tears in her eyes, she held eye contact with me and our conversation was this:
She said, “I see light and friends….and they are all happy, they are happy with me.”
Me: “Who do you see?”
She: “I see them all, they are smiling….will you ask them if I did a good job?”
Me: “Yes, but I can’t see them like you can see them. I know that you did a good job. They love you. God loves you.”
She: “I am so glad they are happy. Lots of light. Everyone is happy.”
At that moment, I realized she was looking into my eyes, but she wasn’t. It was like she was looking through me to something beyond where I sat. I even turned my head to look behind me, just to make sure there was nothing there. Nothing I could see.
I was so comforted by this conversation. I felt that what she was experiencing was real and palpable. I believe she was seeing where she is headed next.
I share this with you because part of the reason I started into seminary is because I had lots of big questions. I needed to dive into the study of finding answers, or at least a better understanding.
In all of my education, that moment, in that hospice chair, with my beloved new friend, was the ultimate learning. And the gift to me, was that she described what she was seeing. My relatives weren’t able to talk with me near their time of death and I couldn’t hear what they were experiencing. But, she gifted me with this description that assures me there is more.
I have no doubt there is something more, there is a place we are going, and it is filled with light and friends.
I am counting on it.
Download the GPS App
The United Methodist Church of the Resurrection
13720 Roe Avenue
Leawood, Kansas 66224 United States
913.897.0120
___________________________
___________________________
No comments:
Post a Comment