Age of the resurrection

<<We live in the age of the Resurrection!>>

! JOKE

Young curate 99/100 story.

INTRO

I'm going to read you a list of names:

Jairus' daughter

Lazarus

Tabitha

Widow's son at Nain

Only 4 people in the New Testament to be raised from the dead.

TABITHA

First half of the story, is a scenario many of us will be familiar with.

A faithful member of the church, someone who has served the Lord in many different ways becomes ill and dies. And the church gather round to mourn her death and call for one of the church leaders to be with them and this sad time.

2nd half – v much doubt if anyone has experienced anything like this.

Apostle Peter arrives – asks everyone to leave – kneels – Tabitha get up!

Became 3rd person to be raised.

JESUS's RESURRECTION

Those of you who are awake will notice that I've left something out...

Jesus also raised from the dead.

1 Cor 15:20 – “Christ has been raised from the dead the firstfruits of those who sleep.” Start of something big.

Imagine throwing stone into a pond.

Ripples.

Book of Acts

One of first few ripples: Tabitha

Because of Jesus' resurrection that Tabitha was raised.

Tabitha is called a disciple:

Brown dressing gown?

Someone who follows Jesus. Don't know if Tabitha ever met Jesus whilst he was on earth. Follower.

Equation simple: Those who follow Jesus this side of death continue following him on the other side of death.

One important difference between Tabitha's resurrection and Jesus'

Jesus never died again.

<CREED> “On the third day he rose again. He ascended into heaven and sits on the right hand of the Father.”

Resurrection of Jesus was a unique event in history.

Fullness of God entered into death. But death could not hold him.

Conquered death.

'Firstfruits'

Sign of what is to come

Those of us who follow Christ will also be raised from the dead at the end of time.

THE AGE OF RESURRECTION

We're currently celebrating the season of Easter. 50 days! c.f. Lent!

After Jesus' defeat of death. Age of resurrection.

We who follow Jesus on this side of death will follow him through death to new life on the other side.

Shadowy, ghostly existence?

Before Jesus came, most Jews were a bit hazy about what they believed about life after death.

'Hades' place of shadows. Drift on into.

Jesus' first disciples realised that: Jesus' body raised from the dead.

Much more than that. An event

Power of God raised jesus' body from the dead.

Raised tabitha's body.

Will Raise our bodies.

Creed “We look for the resurrection of the dead, and the life of the world to come.'

Christian hope: end of time this world will be created afresh – this time without sadness or crying or pain. A new creation.

Physical bodies

God's new creation will be a place where we can play cricket, take dogs for a walk, eat chocolate cake.

Place where our bodies never tire or wear out or perish.

Let's make sure we're going there!

“Blessed be the God and father of our Lord Jesus Christ! By his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead.”

1 Peter 1.