Resurrection projects

We have just come through Lent and Easter and are reminded of God's faithfulness to his King, Jesus. Sometimes we limit what resurrection means to be "life after death." But the New Testament writers saw much more to it than that. It meant physical, genuine, vibrant life. It meant living in that new life of resurrection even before you're resurrected. The resurrection of Jesus changes the entire universe--not just what happens when we die.

We are now called to be people who live out resurrection today. What would we do differently if we knew the entire universe has been changed? What would it mean to store up treasures in heaven in a world that already bears the marks of resurrection? Paul gives us a hint in 1 Cor. 3. There he says that if we have built on the foundation of Jesus--if we have worked at projects that witness to resurrection--that our work will last. Our work will survive. It will not just pass away, but will stand the test of resurrection.

The question is not whether or not your job can witness to resurrection--it almost certainly can. The question is how you can think and work to witness to resurrection in the place you work. Nurses, engineers, gas pump attendants, even (NOT especially) pastors can witness to resurrection in what they do. What's your resurrection project?

Simple Texts and Lent, Reflection Four

The point of Lent is to draw us into the demeanor of Jesus on his road to Calvary. It is to enable us to identify more closely with the suffering of Jesus so that we can better grasp the glory of his resurrection. The despair of the former is only exceeded by the rapture of the latter--and we can only appreciate the one with the other; they are inseparable. The texts that I want to reflect on this week are from John. John 4 records the woman at the well who, in her shame, has come to the well in isolation to draw water. To her, Jesus offers living water--fresh water. In verses 13-14, Jesus says, "Everyone who drinks this water will be thirsty again, but whoever drinks the water I give him will never thirst. Indeed, the water I give him will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life." With this in mind it becomes remarkably surprising that John 19:28 records Jesus, from the cross, saying, "Later, knowing that all was now completed, and so that the Scripture would be fulfilled, Jesus said, 'I am thirsty.'"

How could the one who offers living water that will quench all thirst himself be thirsty? I believe this shows the inseparable nature of God's glory from his crucifixion; of Jesus' death and his resurrection. Jesus has said words recorded of those in exile from God. On the cross Jesus experiences the broken relationship of the Christ being forsaken by his God--the very broken relationship of Israel and her God when she is in exile. Thirst is the description of being away from God. By thirsting Jesus is saying more than his tongue is dry; he is saying he is away from God and identifies with humanity. But never forget that he offers living water--water that shows the restoration of relationship. This is somewhat paradoxical, of course, but John never shies away from paradox. That is why he records Jesus' words: "When I am lifted up (on the cross), I will draw all people to myself." The thirsty God is the one who knows how meaningful living water becomes.

Lent shows us the paradox of a Thirsty God. Only in remembering the thirst of Christ from his position on the cross can we again taste the freshness of the living water he offers. Lent invites us into the thirst.