"The Resurrection of the Body"

 

"For we know that if the earthly tent we live in is destroyed, we have a building from God, an eternal house in heaven, not built by human hands."

 

            When we say the Apostles' Creed we affirm that we believe in "the resurrection of the body." This belief formed a central part of Christian hope in the New Testament and is found prominently in the writings of the early church fathers. N.T. Wright explains that in the early church the doctrine of the resurrection of the body was closely linked to the doctrine of Creation and the doctrine of God's justice and final judgment. He writes, "Resurrection is the point where creation and judgment meet."

            Many medieval theologians also insisted on a bodily resurrection, and held a strong view of God's good creation. But it was in that time that it became more common to speak of an immortal and invisible soul going to eternal reward or punishment rather than the hope of the resurrection of the body.

            In recent years there has been renewed interest in recapturing belief in the resurrection of the body. The focus once again has been on the good creation and its stewardship and care, an interest in what the Bible really says and in connecting the resurrection of Jesus to the Christian hope.

Romans 8:23: "Ébut we ourselves, who have the first fruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait for our adoption, the redemption of our bodies."

I John 3:2: "Dear friends, now we are children of God, and what we will be has not yet been made known. But we know that when Christ appears, we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is."

            But trying to understand the resurrection of the body is very difficult, it stretches our time-bound minds. What happens when we die? We know that if we are in Christ, then when we die we are immediately with the Lord. We also know we await a resurrection of the body at his return.

            The New Testament describes the resurrection of the body largely in metaphor and image. That always makes precise understanding difficult, especially if the metaphors are piled on top of each other. Such is the case in II Corinthians chapter 5. For here Paul speaks of tent, building, house, human hands, clothing, being found naked, being swallowed up, receiving a deposit and feeling at home. All of those images refer to the resurrection of the body and its place in heaven. Before we begin to sort through them, we must be clear that this is a passage of assurance. In dealing with death and the fear of death, it says that there is something better that is ahead. Our life after death is not less physical, or less substantial. It will not be existence as pure spirit, or as a flame. We believe in the resurrection of the body.

            Our hope of the resurrection, Paul says, is like moving from a tent into a fine building. We are aware of earthquake survivors in Haiti and Chile who now live in tents. They need to move out of them. It is getting cold in Chile, and the heavy rains are coming in Haiti. The people need the protection of a building, a house. You cannot be at home in a tent.

            Colin Kruse says that Paul is here using an unusual word for "tent." When this word was used in the Greek Old Testament, it always referred to the human body. The temporary "tent" image refers to the effect of persecution on people, causing the body to waste away. The body is temporary, fragile, and vulnerable. When it is abused it cannot stand for long.

          But we look forward to a building from God; a temple may be in mind here. Jesus spoke of his resurrected body as a temple in John chapter 2. This is a house not made with hands. It is heavenly and eternal. Those who suffer now for their faith look forward to the glory to be revealed in them.

            Paul says the resurrection body is like clothing. This may seem strange to us, because so much of clothing in our lives has merely to do with fashion. But in poorer countries clothing has to do with protection and health. If you do not have shoes to wear, it is easy to get a cut on your foot that gets infected, or that lets in a parasite that will cause illness. If you have no shirt, then the sun can burn your skin or cause skin cancers. The scripture says we do not want to be found naked, which would be to experience God's judgment. Rather, we long to be further clothed for eternity. This is an image of the protection of God, a vision of a new and better embodiment that awaits us.

            The purpose of the new building and the clothing is "so that what is mortal may be swallowed up by life." This image is strange to our ears; it describes an animal gulping its prey whole, or perhaps like Jonah being swallowed up by the great fish. We find the image also in Isaiah 24:8, "He will swallow up death forever. The Sovereign Lord will wipe away the tears from all facesÉ"

            Here is a picture of the vibrancy and power of the new life. Wright says of this victorious life, it is "more real, more firmed up, more substantial than a disembodied spirit. We are a mere shadow of our future selves." Linda Belleville writes that in the resurrection "life will swallow up the entirety of our earthly, fragile, expendable, clay-pot existence."

            But how do we know this is true? Paul says we know because of the presence of the Holy Spirit in our lives, given to us as a kind of deposit, or guarantee of what is to come. That is a financial image. When you buy a house you begin by paying earnest money as the details of the mortgage are being worked out. Or sometimes in purchases you give a deposit or a down payment. This is the Holy Spirit, the one who guarantees what is to come. Scott Hafemann writes, "It is the presence and power of the Spirit that makes Paul groan or long for the resurrection body and also to put off the sin and suffering of the present age. God prepares his people for the future by giving them a longing for it."

            But do we feel that longing? Paul did. He knew while he was at home in the body he was away from the Lord. Hafeman cautions us against having too much comfort in our present location and circumstances. "To be at home in the body is not the end-all of life." He says we must confront our "saturation with the present." It is possible to be too full of our life here to hunger after God.

            The reality is that our earthly bodies separate us from the Lord, and the new, resurrection body makes us like him. Life in the body is not unimportant; it is not to be discounted. Paul says we will be judged for how we have lived in it. But we cannot follow Jesus to where he is while we are in this body. When he returns and is present, then, in risen bodies, we will be like him, and we will be where he is. The purpose of the resurrection body is not to give us an escape from trouble, though we feel our afflictions and griefs keenly. The purpose is not even to perfect our existence, though we long for a greater freedom during times when our bodies do not function properly or fully. The purpose of the resurrected body is so that we can be with the Lord. That is our hope.

            Paul writes in another place that hope does not disappoint. When we are clear on our future, we live with greater assurance and confidence. We do not waste our lives or live in despair. We do not indulge our desires. We live a life that pleases the Lord. We care for God's creation, looking with hope to the new creation. We care for our bodies, our health, looking for the resurrection of the body. We work out our salvation with fear and trembling, waiting the day of its fulfillment. We show the world that God loves them, and tell them the Good News of the Savior who gave his life on the cross and is risen from the dead.

            Amen.