A Resurrected Mind

Introduction

I’m not sure if you are aware of this or not...but the living God...whom we serve and worship here today...has a way of getting our attention.

Nothing goes unnoticed. God knows everything you and I and everyone in the world does. And by his grace...still loves us...calls us out of sin...into new life. That’s not a one-time event...that is a lifelong process.

How many of you have heard of a man named John Newton? Author of Amazing Grace...and preacher...oh yeah...before that, he was directly involved in the trans-Atlantic slave trade. He reported that he despised his profession as a captain of a slave ship.

According to the museum of the Bible website, “He was granted a welcome change in 1754 when a seizure forced his resignation as captain of the ship ‘African’. For Newton, he believed this to be a release from a life in which he felt trapped. 

Now... how many of you have heard of the name Dimas Sala-berrios? Similar to Newton Sala-berrios was involved in worldly wickedness and God pulled him out of that life to serve him. In 2015, Sala-berrios wrote a book titled “Street God: The Explosive True Story of a Former Drug Boss on the Run from the Hood—and the Courageous Mission That Drove Him Back” He did a 180 from his life of crime...to a life of serving the Lord.

There are countless examples of this type of reversal throughout history and still today. It’s never too late to change our ways.

These two men changed becasue of their faith in Jesus Christ...as their Lord and savior...and at some point...they knew it was time (as Sala-berrios put it) to turn away from their own kingdoms and begin to serve in God’s kingdom. They had an experienced a resurrected mind...moving away from their plans and surrendering to God’s plan.

(Sources: https://www.museumofthebible.org/a-wretch-like-me | https://www.christianpost.com/news/dimas-salaberrios-drug-boss-pastor-book-street-god-bronx-new-york.html?page=2)

A Resurrected Mind

Today is the third Sunday of the Easter season...and we come to the third story of the resurrection in Luke 24...and the second appearence of the risen Jesus.

Remember. The direction of the angels to the women at the tomb was to remember...remember what Jesus had said (passion predictions)...remember everything he taught and did...

Last week we talked about the road to Emmaus...how the disciples didn’t recognize Jesus...and after teaching them everything the OT/Hebrew Bible had to say concerning him...they ‘remembered’ and recognized him when he broke the bread...and vanished from their sight.

There seems to be an emphasis of the resurrection....on the disciples' minds. Today’s message is titled “A Resurrected Mind”

The resurrection of Jesus is an all-encompasing event. Body, heart, mind. (summation of God’s law?) God wants ever part of who we are and our minds must be engaged in our faith.

Bodily Resurrection

In today’s reading...Luke makes a theological claim here that the resurrection was an event like no other. That Jesus' physical body was dead...and is now alive again. You might wonder why is that theologically significant.?

Becasue even at the earliest stages of Christianity...people disagreed about the true nautre of Jesus and the resurrection. Some thought Jesus only appeared to be human but was divine...like a hologram...as though Jesus’ body was somehow not real or important.

Luke makes very clear, Jesus had a physical resurrected body. He ate with them. He invited them to see and even touch his wounds. As Paul later writes in defense of the bodily resurrection just years after the event...in 1 Corinthians 15:20

1 Corinthians 15:20 ESV

But in fact Christ has been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep.

Jesus is the first fruits of what you and I can expect. A resurrection of the body. What’s the Apostles Creed state? “I blieve in the Holy Spirit, the Holy Catholic (universal) church, the communion of saints. the forgiveness of sins, the ressurection of the body and life everlasting.”

God wants all of who we are (heart, mind, soul, strength) because God redeems every part of who we are. And to live into that means we need to renew our minds.

Romans 12:1–2 NLT

And so, dear brothers and sisters, I plead with you to give your bodies to God because of all he has done for you. Let them be a living and holy sacrifice—the kind he will find acceptable. This is truly the way to worship him. Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think (or renewing your mind). Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect.

If you struggle with believing in the bodily resurrection...you are not alone. But remember this passage from Luke. Jesus offers himself as proof of his bodily resurrection to the disciples. They were invited to touch and see his flesh. They watched him eat. Our bodies matter to God. We offer our bodies in service to God...it is by our hands and feet (flesh and blood) that the resurrected Christ encouters the world today. Because our bodies matter to God, they should matter to us and we should care for our bodies and teh bodies of other.

Closing

After Jesus ate with them...he said this in Luke 24:44-49

Luke 24:44–49 ESV

Then he said to them, “These are my words that I spoke to you while I was still with you, that everything written about me in the Law of Moses and the Prophets and the Psalms must be fulfilled.” (there it is...again Jesus teaches them what all of scripture says about him...then pay attention to v.45)

Luke 24:44–49 ESV

Then he opened their minds...to understand the Scriptures, (he opened their minds to scripture...ask God to open your mind to what scripture says about Him, He’ll show you!)

Luke 24:44–49 ESV

and (Jesus) said to them, “Thus it is written, that the Christ should suffer and on the third day rise from the dead, and that repentance for the forgiveness of sins should be proclaimed in his name to all nations, beginning from Jerusalem. You are witnesses of these things. And behold, I am sending the promise of my Father upon you. But stay in the city until you are clothed with power from on high.”

This is a commisioning for service and a promise to the disciples. Jesus says to us today “Repentenace for the forgiveness of sins should be proclaimed in his name to all nations...” We need to be aware that there are many ministries...which care for the bodies of others (which is good and proper) but Jesus’ commission to us is also spiritual...

We are to practice and preach repentance for the forgiveness of sins in Jesus’ name. That necessarily menas a recognition we are all sinners and thus need to repent. Not a popular thing in our day but a requirement to be God’s people and carry out his mission.

A resurrected mind is a mind transformed...like John Newton or Dimas Sala-berrios...a captain of a slave ship and a drug dealer...they did a complete 180 from the direction they were headed. Why? Becuaes their minds were right. They had a resurrected mind. Jesus opened their minds and hearts and that led to life change.

Friends do not be conformed to this world...but be transformed by the renewal of you mind...which is a gift from God.

Glory to God forever and ever...AMEN!