Resurrection of the Body?
Our personhood will arise and transcend the grave. Like Jesus, we, too will leave behind our image—a testimony of our love and compassion, the relics of our resurrection.
Saints Sergius and Bacchus Chapel
Palm Springs, California
Our personhood will arise and transcend the grave. Like Jesus, we, too will leave behind our image—a testimony of our love and compassion, the relics of our resurrection.
"But he was pierced for our offenses, crushed for our sins; upon him was the chastisement that makes us whole, by his stripes we were healed."
"'I have given you a model to follow, so that as I have done for you, you should also do.'"
Showing our true selves is always risky. We risk rejection, especially if we wish to be agents of change. Anyone who promotes change—even change for the better—will encounter opposition.
The author wanted people to come away from their writings with a deeper appreciation of the gift of creation and the power of the God who formed it. They also wanted people to better understand humanity’s place within it.
In this section, we see the Yahwist holding chaos—represented by the desert wasteland—at bay and bringing plants, animals, and humans into the lush garden of creation, not just to enjoy it, but also to work with God in the maintenance of its richness and beauty.
"'Let the one among you who is without sin be the first to throw a stone at her.'"
Thus the heavens and the earth and all their array were completed. On the seventh day God completed the work he had been doing; he rested on the seventh day from all the work he had undertaken. God blessed the seventh day and made it holy, because on it he rested from all the work he had done in creation.
“’But now we must celebrate and rejoice, because your brother was dead and has come to life again; he was lost and has been found.’”
Now, before we charge ahead into verse three of Genesis, let’s take a look at the early history of Israel where the Book of Genesis was composed.
The God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, and the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ is not the god most “Christians” worship. They’ve fallen into this idolatrous pit because they don’t read the Scriptures carefully enough.
Last session, we talked about the conceptual framework in which all myth exists. Every myth is a story that serves a purpose. It can be used to celebrate events or heroes, to model ideal behavior, or to explain the origin of things.
“Then from the cloud came a voice that said, ‘This is my chosen Son; listen to him.`”
The first three chapters of Genesis have burrowed their way into our popular culture more than almost any other passages in the Judaeo-Christian Scriptures.
“Filled with the Holy Spirit, Jesus returned from the Jordan and was led by the Spirit into the desert for forty days, to be tempted by the devil.”
“A good tree does not bear rotten fruit, nor does a rotten tree bear good fruit.”
“’…love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you.’”
“And raising his eyes toward his disciples he said: ‘Blessed are you who are poor, for the kingdom of God is yours.’”
“Jesus said to Simon, ‘Do not be afraid; from now on you will be catching men.’”
“They rose up, drove him out of the town, and led him to the brow of the hill”