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(#33) We Will Be Together Again

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If Jesus Rose from the Dead, then (#33) We Will Be Together Again

Because of the resurrection of Jesus, one of the great hopes we have is that we will one day be reunited with our loved ones who have died in Christ: husbands, wives, sons, daughters, family and friends. My father passed away a number of years ago and I still miss him, but he and I will one day laugh together once more.

Is this just some Pollyanna wish or do we have a firm basis for it?

David seemed to think that he would see his infant son in heaven:

But now he is dead. Why should I fast? Can I bring him back again? I shall go to him, but he will not return to me. 2 Samuel 12:23

Jesus certainly implied it:

I tell you, many will come from east and west and recline at table with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob in the kingdom of heaven… Matthew 8:11

If Jesus says we will sit down and have a meal with Abraham, then that’s a pretty strong affirmation that we will physically gather after death.

One of the more detailed passages is found in Paul’s letter to the Thessalonians. Paul is comforting those who have lost loved ones in Christ:

But we do not want you to be uninformed, brothers, about those who are asleep, that you may not grieve as others do who have no hope. For since we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so, through Jesus, God will bring with him those who have fallen asleep. For this we declare to you by a word from the Lord, that we who are alive, who are left until the coming of the Lord, will not precede those who have fallen asleep. For the Lord himself will descend from heaven with a cry of command, with the voice of an archangel, and with the sound of the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive, who are left, will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we will always be with the Lord. ... 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18

Notice that Paul is basing all of this on the fact that Jesus rose from the dead. And if Jesus was raised from the dead, then those who have fallen asleep in the Lord will also be raised from the dead. The key words for our consideration today are that we will all be “caught up together” and that we will, therefore, “always” be with the Lord. This is another confirmation that we will not only be raised from the dead, but we will be united with each other once more. All of this, again, is tied back to the resurrection:

 …knowing that he who raised the Lord Jesus will raise us also with Jesus and bring us with you into his presence (2 Corinthians 4:14).

But, there are those who claim this will only be a spiritual resurrection. We have already dealt with that, but let’s look at it some more:

But our citizenship is in heaven, and from it we await a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, who will transform our lowly body to be like his glorious body… Philippians 3:21

This is one of the clearest passages we have that God is going to give us a body like the Lord’s. And we know what His body was like. We looked at that earlier. It was a physical body. They saw Him and touched Him. They talked with Him and ate with Him. 

This is exactly what John is saying as well:

Beloved, we are God's children now, and what we will be has not yet appeared; but we know that when he appears we shall be like him… 1 john 3:2

We will have a resurrected body that will be like Jesus’ resurrected body. 

When Moses and Elijah met with Jesus, they were recognized by Peter as being in physical bodies. He offered to make tents for them. (Matthew 17:3-4)

We are given another picture in Revelation:

After this I looked, and behold, a great multitude that no one could number, from every nation, from all tribes and peoples and languages, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed in white robes, with palm branches in their hands… Revelation 7:9

If we are “standing” and “clothed” and waving “palm branches in our hands” then one might rightly conclude we are in a physical body.

Here is another interesting insight:

Just as we have borne the image of the man of dust, we shall also bear the image of the man of heaven. 1 Corinthians 15:49

This comes from the very lengthy passage in which Paul deals with the question, “What kind of body will we have?” It is a great question, for the passage above implies there is something different about the new body: the old one is from “dust” and the new one is from “heaven”. Paul gives us some more detail, although it isn’t exhaustive for sure. I encourage you to read this whole chapter, but here are a few of the insights we get about what kind of body we will have:

What you sow does not come to life unless it dies. And what you sow is not the body that is to be, but a bare kernel, perhaps of wheat or of some other grain. But God gives it a body as he has chosen, and to each kind of seed its own body. 1 Corinthians 15:36-38

First, we are told that our new body will be different than our old body. This doesn’t mean that we won’t recognize each other, for it appears from all of the passages we just looked at that we will. But the new body will be different and it will be an actual body, for God will “give us a body".

Now the next verses are critical for us to begin to understand what that “difference” might be:

There are heavenly bodies and earthly bodies, but the glory of the heavenly is of one kind, and the glory of the earthly is of another. There is one glory of the sun, and another glory of the moon, and another glory of the stars; for star differs from star in glory. 1 Corinthians 15:40-41

Paul is telling us that the difference is going to be in its “glory”. The Greek word is doxa and it can mean a lot of different things. In the context here, regarding the sun, moon and stars, it most likely means “splendor” or “brightness”. What does that mean for our new bodies? Well, Paul tells us what “glory” means for our bodies:

So is it with the resurrection of the dead. What is sown is perishable; what is raised is imperishable. It is sown in dishonor; it is raised in glory. It is sown in weakness; it is raised in power. It is sown a natural body; it is raised a spiritual body. If there is a natural body, there is also a spiritual body. 1 Corinthians 15:42-44

The difference is not that we will no longer have a body, we will. But it will be an “imperishable” body. Our earthly bodies, because of the fall, are subject to age and decay. Our bodies are buried in “dishonor” for they are dead and decaying. Our new bodies will no longer be subject to age and decay, aches and pains, paralysis or cancer or disease or deformity. It will no longer be subject to weakness, but will be a body that will be powerful.

Now, do not let the last two verses throw you: “natural body” vs “spiritual body”. Some have used this to say we will only be spirits floating around. The key word is "body" and remember all the passages we just looked at. We will be given a body like Jesus' body. The natural body is the fallen body; the spiritual body is the new imperishable one he just described. Jesus was in His spiritual body when He appeared to the women and the disciples and to many others. We don’t know every detail about it, but it seems to me that it was able to pass through solid matter or it could transport itself instantly from one place to another. Molecular physics informs us that the vast majority of the area that a solid object occupies is made up of space! It is not beyond reason that our new bodies would be able to pass through matter.

But, although we don’t know the specifics of the new body, we do know that it will no longer be a fallen body in a fallen world, because God is going to make all things new:

Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and the sea was no more… Behold, I am making all things new. Revelation 21:1, 5

This was prophesied long, long ago:

For behold, I create new heavens and a new earth… Isaiah 65:17

Isn’t it wonderful how consistent God’s word is? From beginning to end.

You and I, who are in Christ, are going to be raised with “imperishable” bodies and placed in a “new earth” that will no longer be groaning and decaying. It will be a most marvelous place and we will all be together with our loved ones in the Lord and all of the saints. We will walk and talk with Paul, with Moses and Enoch. My personal opinion is that we will have an immense universe to visit filled with the most jaw-dropping sights. The fact that God raised Jesus physically and He is going to raise us physically and He is going to create a new heaven and a new earth tells us that the old Gnostic position that the physical was evil is wrong. There are those today who lean toward this as well. No, God has blessed the physical. He created a physical world and He will recreate it. Don't let the spiritualizes take that away from you.

And, for this reason, we know in this new heavens and earth, we will all be together again... physically.

Doesn't this lift our souls on this present earth in longing? Doesn't it fill us with a confidence and peace that no matter what our circumstances are in this fallen world, no matter how much the wicked prosper and the enemies of God and His truth bark and appear to hold the upper hand, that they do not? Does it not bring perspective to our trials and tribulations and momentary losses, that one day it will all be made new? Does it not relieve our worries and cares to know that those of us in Christ will receive an inheritance that has no equal? 

Oh, my!

I suppose we ought to close with Paul's ending of that amazing chapter on our resurrection:

Behold! I tell you a mystery. We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised imperishable, and we shall be changed. For this perishable body must put on the imperishable, and this mortal body must put on immortality. When the perishable puts on the imperishable, and the mortal puts on immortality, then shall come to pass the saying that is written: “Death is swallowed up in victory.” “O death, where is your victory? O death, where is your sting?” 1 Corinthians 15:51-55

Hallelujah!

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(#2) The Seal Was Broken
 If Jesus Rose from the Dead, then (#1) The Seal Was Broken We don’t spend much time talking about the seal that was placed upon the tomb, but I think it is significant. Here is the historical record: The next day, that is, after the day of Preparation, the chief priests and the Pharisees gathered before Pilate and said, “Sir, we remember how that impostor said, while he was still alive, ‘After three days I will rise.’ Therefore order the tomb to be made secure until the third day, lest his disciples go and steal him away and tell the people, ‘He has risen from the dead,’ and the last fraud will be worse than the first.” Pilate said to them, “You have a guard of soldiers. Go, make it as secure as you can.” So they went and made the tomb secure by sealing the stone and setting a guard. Matthew 27:62-66 The historical account states that the chief priests and the Pharisees “made the tomb secure by sealing the stone…”.  This seal was most likely several ropes that were drawn across the stone and then affixed to the tomb walls with a soft clay imprinted with some symbol of authority. It was also likely that the ropes were also sealed at their juncture in front of the stone. In this way, no one could move the stone or the ropes without breaking the dried clay and destroying the “seal” affixed upon the clay.  The seal was there to “put on notice” that no one was to mess with the tomb. Rome could deal quite nastily with those who did so. Now, this doesn’t mean much to us today, for we are long past the norm of using “seals” as they were utilized in ancient times. but in those days, a seal was inviolable[1]. It represented authority, authenticity, and finality. No one messed with a seal. In the book of Esther, when King Ahasuerus issued the order to save the Jews, he commanded them to “seal it with the king's ring, for an edict written in the name of the king and sealed with the king's ring cannot be revoked.” (Esther 8:8) When Daniel was thrown into the lion’s den, “… a stone was brought and laid on the mouth of the den, and the king sealed it with his own signet and with the signet of his lords, that nothing might be changed concerning Daniel." (Daniel 6:17) In the vision concerning the destruction of Jerusalem, the Scripture says this: And the vision of all this has become to you like the words of a book that is sealed. When men give it to one who can read, saying, “Read this,” he says, “I cannot, for it is sealed.” Isaiah 29:11 The permanence of a seal against all who were unauthorized to break it was an inviolable part of their world.  It becomes even more apparent when John is caught up to heaven and there beholds the scroll with seven seals. John begins to weep because there was “no one worthy to open the scroll or to look into it” (Revelation 5:4). Of course, we find that the Lamb, “standing as though it had been slain” (Revelation 5:6), was worthy to break the seals. And when each of those seals were broken, great calamity came upon the earth. Seals in the Scripture mean something. And John had wept, because the seal represented an inviolable wall to anyone who did not have the authority to break it. Seals show authority. They show authenticity. And they show finality for all except the one who had the authority to break them. And so, we now come back to the tomb. The seal, whether it was a Roman seal or the High Priest’s seal, represented a fixed closure that no one was allowed to breach. When it was set upon the tomb, there was a finality, a stamp of ultimate authority, that said, “this tomb is closed”. Ah, but God is not subject to the laws or seals of man. I can imagine that when the earth began to shake and the stone was rolled aside, that those clay seals with the authority of man impressed upon them broke into a thousand pieces and lay as trash littering the ground. If Jesus rose from the dead, then the seal of man, meant to keep Him in the grave, had been utterly and completely destroyed. But there is one more thing that must be mentioned regarding “seals”. It is important to note that God has given us this detail in the record to help substantiate the reality of the accounts of the empty tomb and the risen Lord Jesus. But it also brings our minds to something quite wonderful. In John 6:27, Jesus said this: Do not work for the food that perishes, but for the food that endures to eternal life, which the Son of Man will give to you. For on him God the Father has set his seal.” If God seals something, it is sealed! In him you also, when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and believed in him, were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit, Ephesians 1:13 “… it is God who establishes us with you in Christ, and has anointed us, and who has also put his seal on us and given us his Spirit in our hearts as a guarantee. 2 Corinthians 1:21 This is God’s seal of authority, authenticity, and finality. You are His, sealed with His guarantee. Oh, my, dear brothers and sisters in Christ! How deep is the steadfast love of God that He should do such mighty things to secure us to Himself and then tell that He has put His own seal upon you and me. As David writes: “Such knowledge is too wonderful for me; it is high; I cannot attain it.” Psalm 139:6 [previous] [next]     [1]Inviolable /ĭn-vī′ə-lə-bəl/: never to be broken, infringed or dishonored; unassailable; secure from violation or assault or trespass
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If Jesus Rose from the Dead, then... (#0)
The resurrection of Jesus Christ is the most important truth claim in a biblical worldview. It is the key apologetic for Christianity. It is the most important event in history. The implications of the Resurrection are so deeply woven into the fabric of our Christian faith that it is important for us to continually embed its truths into our heart and mind such that it becomes an ever-present reality. To do this, I would like for us to ponder fifty compelling arguments and implications that are true if Jesus, indeed, “rose from the dead.” We will look at these, one a day, over the next seven weeks. This will take us through Ascension Day and Pentecost. The latter two are important days of remembrance following the Resurrection and we will highlight them. But more importantly, I want to help people contemplate, on a daily basis, over a sustained period of time, the tremendous significance of the Resurrection. We will do this by considering not only the many proofs, but also the many deep implications. I would encourage you to do this as devotions with your spouse or as a study for your small group and then engage in a healthy discussion (suggested questions will be provided in the daily email). My prayer is that God will use these days to increase faith within the Body of Christ and our ability to provide a "neighborly apologetic" to those who are open to hear as the result of the relationships we are building with them. Paul states that without the resurrection, our faith would be in vain and we would still be lost.  “… if Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile and you are still in your sins.”      1 Corinthians 15:17 This is not a minor statement, and it should cause us pause, for it puts this unique historical event into sharp perspective. Without the Resurrection, we are hopelessly lost. We are without a true faith and we are unforgiven, still condemned in our sins. We should probably read that verse over several times before plowing forward. It is easy for me, and possibly you, to treat Easter as another Christian holiday marked by multiple, and possibly extensive, preparations. Church choirs rehearse diligently and on overtime, special services are prepared (think Good Friday and sometimes Sunrise Services), thousands of lilies are tended and provoked to bloom at the right time and are purchased to line sanctuary rails, special meals are planned and prepared and joyously consumed, treasure hunts are created, painted eggs are hidden and Easter baskets are filled with chocolate bunnies, peeps, and who knows what else the market has, and will, come up with.  The point here is that just like Christmas and Thanksgiving and every other holiday, including birthdays, anniversaries, and the multitude of “take-your-boss-to-lunch” kind of days, they are preceded with much preparation, happy execution, and then forgotten except to toss the wrappings into the trash and press on with life as usual. When I was at the White House, the annual “Easter Egg Roll” on the south lawn was a big deal with weeks of preparation, followed immediately by a massive clean-up and the Secret Service hustling folks out of the “compound”. The next day, it was impossible to find any evidence that there had been anything going on. For the Resurrection, however, Paul implies that it is something so critical to our faith that it should be an ever-present reality. The astounding cry, “He lives!” should be ongoing, not a one-and-done holiday. for certainly, "We serve a risen Savior, He's in the world today," as the famous hymn states, is an astounding, ever present, constant reality. I believe it is important for us to frequently ponder and meditate upon the deep implications that the tomb was really, truly empty and the resurrection of Jesus from the dead is absolutely true… a historical fact that has everyday repercussions and reminders of the startling reality that He is, in fact, "alive" and per His promise to those who are His, living within us. This should, as we used to say when I was flying, "water our eyes." So, we will look at not only these implications, but also the apologetic propositions and the incredible truths that logically follow this unmatched historical assertion. We will generally lay down the apologetic arguments first and then deal with the implications. And hopefully, after working your way through all of this, you will have imprinted these implications and truths deep in your heart such that they will help you with your walk into the darkness we call future. Because it is the Resurrection of Christ that stands not only at the forefront in the apologetic reality of who Jesus is and what God has done for us, but also the enduring hope we have in Christ. As another famous hymn states: "Because He lives, I can face tomorrow." [Next: It Would Have Shaken Everything]
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