David Bahn – Reflections

It was concerning this salvation that the prophets made careful search and investigation, and they prophesied about this gift which God would give you. ¹¹ They tried to find out when the time would be and how it would come. This was the time to which Christ’s Spirit in them was pointing, in predicting the sufferings that Christ would have to endure and the glory that would follow. ¹² God revealed to these prophets that their work was not for their own benefit, but for yours, as they spoke about those things which you have now heard from the messengers who announced the Good News by the power of the Holy Spirit sent from heaven. These are things which even the angels would like to understand.

¹³ So then, have your minds ready for action. Keep alert and set your hope completely on the blessing which will be given you when Jesus Christ is revealed. ¹⁴ Be obedient to God, and do not allow your lives to be shaped by those desires you had when you were still ignorant. ¹⁵ Instead, be holy in all that you do, just as God who called you is holy. ¹⁶ The scripture says, “Be holy because I am holy.”

¹⁷ You call him Father, when you pray to God, who judges all people by the same standard, according to what each one has done; so then, spend the rest of your lives here on earth in reverence for him. ¹⁸ For you know what was paid to set you free from the worthless manner of life handed down by your ancestors. It was not something that can be destroyed, such as silver or gold; ¹⁹ it was the costly sacrifice of Christ, who was like a lamb without defect or flaw. ²⁰ He had been chosen by God before the creation of the world and was revealed in these last days for your sake. ²¹ Through him you believe in God, who raised him from death and gave him glory; and so your faith and hope are fixed on God.  – 1 Peter 1:11-21

One of my favorite verses of the Bible is Acts 1:10-11

As they strained to see Jesus rising into heaven, two white-robed men suddenly stood among them.¹¹ “Men of Galilee,” they said, “why are you standing here staring into heaven? Jesus has been taken from you into heaven, but someday he will return from heaven in the same way you saw him go!”

I love this question because I am ready with the answer: “Because I’ve never seen anything like this before!” The angels, however, were not stunned by this. They were finally seeing Jesus returned to his proper place of glory and honor. They had spent 33 years staring down to the earth, wondering, What is God up to? This is most unusual! We’ve never seen anything like this before! It’s all a matter of perspective and understanding.

Angels long to look into the things of God on earth because they are heavenly beings, invisible (most of the time), powerful, and fully-devoted to doing the Father’s will. Those holy angels who did not follow Satan in the primordial rebellion are now “confirmed in their bliss.” They love and serve God without wavering. And they know how things ought to be.

Only for 33 years – from their perspective – things were not as they were supposed to be. Things  were quite upside down. Jesus, the Son of God, eternal, One with the Father and the Holy Spirit, was subjected to shameful treatment. He was humiliated and rejected. He did not receive the honor and glory he deserved. Things were not as they truly ought to be.

I wonder whether the angels were mesmerized by what they saw. Glimpses of Jesus’ true glory leaked out. Whether at the Transfiguration (Luke 9:26-36), or when Jesus stilled the storm at sea (Mark 4:35-41), or when Jesus turned water into wine (John 2:1-11), once in a while the majestic glory of God in the flesh manifested itself. For the fullness of the deity dwelt in Jesus in bodily form (cf. Colossians 2:9). Whenever the deity of Christ manifested itself I wonder if, humanly speaking, the angels thought, that’s more like it!

But they longed to watch the earthly ministry of Jesus in every moment. How was God going to rescue and redeem the lost and fallen world? How was Jesus going to fulfill all of the Old Testament prophecies? How will all this end? These are great mysteries. And they are worthy our consideration as well. As we consider these profound mysteries, we can also marvel at the grace of God. That will keep us spellbound for all eternity!

It was concerning this salvation that the prophets made careful search and investigation, and they prophesied about this gift which God would give you. ¹¹ They tried to find out when the time would be and how it would come. This was the time to which Christ’s Spirit in them was pointing, in predicting the sufferings that Christ would have to endure and the glory that would follow. ¹² God revealed to these prophets that their work was not for their own benefit, but for yours, as they spoke about those things which you have now heard from the messengers who announced the Good News by the power of the Holy Spirit sent from heaven. These are things which even the angels would like to understand.

¹³ So then, have your minds ready for action. Keep alert and set your hope completely on the blessing which will be given you when Jesus Christ is revealed. ¹⁴ Be obedient to God, and do not allow your lives to be shaped by those desires you had when you were still ignorant. ¹⁵ Instead, be holy in all that you do, just as God who called you is holy. ¹⁶ The scripture says, “Be holy because I am holy.”

¹⁷ You call him Father, when you pray to God, who judges all people by the same standard, according to what each one has done; so then, spend the rest of your lives here on earth in reverence for him. ¹⁸ For you know what was paid to set you free from the worthless manner of life handed down by your ancestors. It was not something that can be destroyed, such as silver or gold; ¹⁹ it was the costly sacrifice of Christ, who was like a lamb without defect or flaw. ²⁰ He had been chosen by God before the creation of the world and was revealed in these last days for your sake. ²¹ Through him you believe in God, who raised him from death and gave him glory; and so your faith and hope are fixed on God.  – 1 Peter 1:11-21

There is more and more talk these days about life after COVID-19. People are wondering about how the economy is going to get re-started. Some are very worried about a second wave of the virus. Still others are protesting, while others are waiting patiently. We’re all going to face a different kind of normal in the months ahead. 

When listing the things they are looking forward to, people will mention going out to dinner at their favorite restaurant. Others look forward to visiting face-to-face with their children and grandchildren. Others want to see the kids go back to school. We’re looking forward to a return to public worship. 

But in the midst of all these forward-looking dreams, there is a very important reminder, perhaps even a corrective. 

God revealed to these prophets that their work was not for their own benefit, but for yours, as they spoke about those things which you have now heard from the messengers who announced the Good News by the power of the Holy Spirit sent from heaven.

We don’t live for ourselves. We may legitimately look forward to seeing our grandchildren, traveling, eating out, and other wonderful social interactions that are a blessing from God. But our purpose in all these things is no different now than it will be at that time.

Peter tells us that the prophets served us: to bring the Good News of Jesus to us so that we would be saved. We, too, have the purpose of bringing glory to God, and seeking to spread the Good News of Jesus’ reign and rule of grace. This has not changed. It will not change. 

I suspect the challenge will be to remember that the relief we all seek is not just so we can enjoy better days. I dearly hope to visit grandchildren, eat out, and travel. I just want to remember that these activities are settings in which I may live under Christ in his kingdom, and serve him. We do so by serving one another, and living in gratitude and hope. All this has been secured for us by Jesus’ resurrection, and God holds out this hope and promise by his grace and goodness!

It was concerning this salvation that the prophets made careful search and investigation, and they prophesied about this gift which God would give you. ¹¹ They tried to find out when the time would be and how it would come. This was the time to which Christ’s Spirit in them was pointing, in predicting the sufferings that Christ would have to endure and the glory that would follow. ¹² God revealed to these prophets that their work was not for their own benefit, but for yours, as they spoke about those things which you have now heard from the messengers who announced the Good News by the power of the Holy Spirit sent from heaven. These are things which even the angels would like to understand.

¹³ So then, have your minds ready for action. Keep alert and set your hope completely on the blessing which will be given you when Jesus Christ is revealed. ¹⁴ Be obedient to God, and do not allow your lives to be shaped by those desires you had when you were still ignorant. ¹⁵ Instead, be holy in all that you do, just as God who called you is holy. ¹⁶ The scripture says, “Be holy because I am holy.”

¹⁷ You call him Father, when you pray to God, who judges all people by the same standard, according to what each one has done; so then, spend the rest of your lives here on earth in reverence for him. ¹⁸ For you know what was paid to set you free from the worthless manner of life handed down by your ancestors. It was not something that can be destroyed, such as silver or gold; ¹⁹ it was the costly sacrifice of Christ, who was like a lamb without defect or flaw. ²⁰ He had been chosen by God before the creation of the world and was revealed in these last days for your sake. ²¹ Through him you believe in God, who raised him from death and gave him glory; and so your faith and hope are fixed on God.  – 1 Peter 1:11-21

I had finished a graveside service for a member of the church I served years ago. Afterwards one of the people there began a conversation that took a turn I didn’t expect. “I really appreciate how you talk about Jesus and the resurrection,” he said. Of course I talk about the resurrection of Jesus and the resurrection; that’s our only true comfort, I thought. I recall having attended a funeral where the name of Jesus was never mentioned and there was no mention of the resurrection: very sad. Very, very sad.

“Did you know they’ve bred a pure red heifer in Jerusalem?!?” He was very excited to tell me this and thought I would share this enthusiasm for this bit of good news. “No I was not aware of that,” I said, trying to send a signal: I’m not really interested in this. I don’t recall how the conversation finally ended.

Red heifers and 70 weeks calculations, arguments over the Millennial reign of Christ, the tribulation, and the rapture do not occupy much of my theological space. Perhaps I err a bit by ignoring these things. We do well to consider all that the Bible says about the End Times and Jesus’ return to judge the living and the dead.

The center of our theology, however, is the message of Jesus Christ: his life, suffering, death, burial, resurrection and his Second Coming. The message of the cross of Jesus was central to the New Testament writers. And in these words Peter speaks about Old Testament prophets seeking to understand how and when the Messiah would come, and what his reign would look like.

I suspect we give too little thought to the End Times – with the exception of these difficult days. Then it seems we want to escape the difficulty more than we want to be with Jesus. Our fascination with the mysteries of the parousia may intrigue us, but too often people get lost in speculation and lose sight of the cross and the empty tomb of Jesus.

We don’t know when this ordeal will be over. We may want to look for signs. But we will surely want to keep our eyes on the cross and the empty tomb as we look forward to that end, and remember to look beyond the end of this current situation to the Great Last Day of our Lord Jesus Christ.

From Peter, apostle of Jesus Christ—

To God’s chosen people who live as refugees scattered throughout the provinces of Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia. ² You were chosen according to the purpose [“foreknowledge”, ESV and others] of God the Father and were made a holy people by his Spirit, to obey Jesus Christ and be purified by his blood.

May grace and peace be yours in full measure.

³ Let us give thanks to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! Because of his great mercy he gave us new life by raising Jesus Christ from death. This fills us with a living hope, ⁴ and so we look forward to possessing the rich blessings that God keeps for his people. He keeps them for you in heaven, where they cannot decay or spoil or fade away. ⁵ They are for you, who through faith are kept safe by God’s power for the salvation which is ready to be revealed at the end of time.

⁶ Be glad about this, even though it may now be necessary for you to be sad for a while because of the many kinds of trials you suffer. ⁷ Their purpose is to prove that your faith is genuine. Even gold, which can be destroyed, is tested by fire; and so your faith, which is much more precious than gold, must also be tested, so that it may endure. Then you will receive praise and glory and honor on the Day when Jesus Christ is revealed. ⁸ You love him, although you have not seen him, and you believe in him, although you do not now see him. So you rejoice with a great and glorious joy which words cannot express, ⁹ because you are receiving the salvation of your souls, which is the purpose of your faith in him. – 1 Peter 1:1-9 [Good News Translation (GNT) Copyright © 1992 by American Bible Society]

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1. What do you know about Peter, the author of this letter? What insight does this knowledge of Peter give to your understanding of this letter?Mark 1:35-39Luke 5:1-11
   1. Matthew 10:1-42
   2. Matthew 14:24-33
   3. John 6:68-69
   4. Matthew 17:1-9
   5. Matthew 18:21-35
   6. Matthew 19:27-30
   7. John 13:16-20
   8. Matthew 26:30-35; Matthew 26:35
   9. John 18:1-11
   10. Matthew 26:69-75
   11. John 20:1-10
   12. Luke 24:34
   13. John 21
2. What do you know about the provinces of Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia?What does it mean that they were “refugees scattered” in these various places? What insight does this give you about this letter?
   1. What common ground would you have with these people?
3. What is the purpose of God’s election according to this verse? How do the following verses also speak to the purpose of God’s election?Ephesians 2:8-101 Peter 2:9-10
   1. 2 Timothy 1:9
   2. Romans 8:28-30
   3. Ephesians 1:3-10
4. Grace and peace is a common greeting in many of the New Testament letters. These words, however, and not throw-away words. They are rich in meaning and offer incredible blessing to us.Grace means….Peace means….
   1. Which of these are more meaningful to you? Which of these do you most need at this time?
5. What is the source of living hope?
6. How is living hope different from just plain hope?
7. To what does living hope look forward?
8. What is the promise in verse 5? How do you apply that to our present time and situation? 
9. We are urged to be glad even though we suffer…. Notice the purpose of these trials (v. 6)Notice the limitation of these trials (v. 6)
   1. Notice the outcome of facing these trials successfully (v. 7)
10. Note the purpose of our faith in Jesus: to receive the salvation of our souls. How do we balance that ultimate gift of salvation with God’s call to live in the here and now? In other words, this letter is written to people who are in the midst of suffering and challenges. Yet they are to remain hopeful and rejoice and give thanks all the while waiting. How is that balance of hoping, rejoicing, giving thanks, and waiting showing up in your life these days?
11. What is your biggest challenge in that balance?
12. What is your biggest source of strength in maintaining that balance?
13. How alive is your hope? 

Hope in Jesus Christ is grounded in his resurrection from the dead. That means that our hope is as alive as Jesus is. And he is very alive. Hope focused on Jesus is truly alive – just as he is alive. 

Two Quotes

Living Hope
“It is also called a ‘living hope,’ because it is imperishable. Other hopes fade like withering flowers. The hopes of the rich, the boasts of the proud, all these will die out as a candle when it flickers in the socket. The hope of the greatest monarch has been crushed before our eyes; he set up the standard of victory too soon, and has seen it trailed in the mire. There is no un-waning hope beneath the changeful moon: the only imperishable hope is that which climbs above the stars, and fixes itself upon the throne of God and the person of Jesus Christ.” (Spurgeon)

Trials & Testing
“Indeed, it is the honor of faith to be tried. Shall any man say, ‘I have faith, but I have never had to believe under difficulties’? Who knows whether thou hast any faith? Shall a man say, ‘I have great faith in God, but I have never had to use it in anything more than the ordinary affairs of life, where I could probably have done without it as well as with it’? Is this to the honor and praise of thy faith? Dost thou think that such a faith as this will bring any great glory to God, or bring to thee any great reward? If so, thou art mightily mistaken.” (Spurgeon)

Be my strong refuge, to which I may resort continually; you have given the commandment to save me. 

– Psalm 71:3 NKJV

The Lord will rescue me from every evil attack and save me for his heavenly kingdom.

– 2 Timothy 4:18

Governor Andrew Cuomo of New York famously said of the progress made in fighting the COVID-19 virus, “God didn’t do this…” He went on to name a number of other things that “did not do this” that is, did not abate the spread of the outbreak. He went on to say that the people did that. Their actions had the impact of slowing the spread of this disease. 

You might be surprised that I don’t totally disagree with the governor. You won’t be surprised to learn that I disagree with what I think he meant. I, along with many, find it  raw and offensive. 

God did do this, but not by magically preventing further spread. He did it by inspiring people to obey the guidelines and practice good behavior – even though many would not give God any credit for that. God also did that by upholding the laws of nature, the natural order and allowing for those laws and that order to function normally. God did that by inspiring people to go serve that community – not only groups like Samaritan’s Purse (a Christian ministry), but other groups as well – Christian and even non-Christian. 

God is above all these things. The world works because he made it and still preserves it. We go on at his pleasure. We live and move and have our being in him. He is the source of life and health, wellness and peace. Most often those come to us and all people – the just and the unjust – simply because of his fatherly divine goodness and mercy. We don’t earn this. We who know him to the the author of all good things, simply give him credit, glory, thanks, and praise. 

There is a peace in knowing these things. There is a comfort in knowing and believing that God is good, merciful, gracious, and loving. It give us hope. It gives us confidence in the face of even the greatest enemy.

The challenge for most of us is applying that peace to this life (the lower story). Most believers find Jesus’ promises for forgiveness and salvation of great comfort in the abstract. We think of the life of the world to come as blissful, joyful, and hope-giving. But we still struggle in the here and now. 

That might be because we misunderstand just how God does work. He works through doctors and nurses, pharmacies and EMTs. He works through kind neighbors and government programs. He works through people who obey the laws and practice good hygiene. 

We dare not underestimate the dangers that lurk all around us. These come all the time. Sometimes they are obvious and fearful. Too often they are subtle and devious. In any case, we must not ignore those dangers and threats. But let us not miss God’s favor and blessings, his promises and goodness, his mercy and grace, his forgiveness and salvation. All these conspire to give us peace in the midst of the threats we face. 

Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ,

To those who are elect exiles of the Dispersion in Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia, ² according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, in the sanctification of the Spirit, for obedience to Jesus Christ and for sprinkling with his blood:

May grace and peace be multiplied to you.

³ Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! According to his great mercy, he has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, ⁴ to an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you, ⁵ who by God’s power are being guarded through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. ⁶ In this you rejoice, though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been grieved by various trials, ⁷ so that the tested genuineness of your faith—more precious than gold that perishes though it is tested by fire—may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ. ⁸ Though you have not seen him, you love him. Though you do not now see him, you believe in him and rejoice with joy that is inexpressible and filled with glory, ⁹ obtaining the outcome of your faith, the salvation of your souls.

–  1 Peter 1:1-9

There is a mystery surrounding the infection of a number of US Navy personnel aboard the USNS Mercy, a hospital ship staffed by a number of Navy medical workers. Somehow 7 of the workers have tested positive for COVID-19. But it is very unclear how it is even possible for them to have contracted the virus. We do know, however, where the disease comes from. It comes from a virus. It comes because we are in a fallen world where because of sin (not necessarily specific sins). 

Let’s look at another thing: From where does hope come? We might be used to skipping over the introductions to various letters in the Bible. Paul begins so many of his with his name and then those words, “grace and peace”. Peter does much the same here: “May grace and peace be multiplied to you.”

Look more closely at the first verses of this letter. Note well what Peter says. “To those who are elect exiles of the Dispersion in Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia, ² according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, in the sanctification of the Spirit, for obedience to Jesus Christ and for sprinkling with his blood.”

These people are elect. They are chosen by God. He has moved toward them in compassion and kindness, mercy and grace. He has called them to faith. He has saved them and they are now his children. This is true of us as well. 

They are in a place not unknown beforehand to God. Their situation is no surprise to God. He knew before the first hint of the testing of various trials even surfaced that they would be facing those trials. He knew that they would be facing them. He needed no contingency. He didn’t have to regroup. So too with us in these present times.

They were set apart by the Holy Spirit. That word, sanctification or sanctified means set aside or set apart. The idea of such being set aside or set apart is two-fold. Those who are set aside are subject to a specific purpose. God’s purpose in setting us all aside is in order that we may be blessed and be a blessing to others. Those who are sanctified or set apart are also the subject of God’s special attention and care. When I pray, I often ask God to set aside a person for his special attention and care. We are set aside be be blessed and to be a blessing to others. We are also set aside for God’s special attention and care. This is a good thing.

These are the elements of God’s wellspring of hope: Being set apart, being chosen by God, and being in a place known by God – long before you ever thought of being wherever you are. That’s where hope comes from.

Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ,

To those who are elect exiles of the Dispersion in Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia, ² according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, in the sanctification of the Spirit, for obedience to Jesus Christ and for sprinkling with his blood:

May grace and peace be multiplied to you.

³ Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! According to his great mercy, he has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, ⁴ to an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you, ⁵ who by God’s power are being guarded through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. ⁶ In this you rejoice, though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been grieved by various trials, ⁷ so that the tested genuineness of your faith—more precious than gold that perishes though it is tested by fire—may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ. ⁸ Though you have not seen him, you love him. Though you do not now see him, you believe in him and rejoice with joy that is inexpressible and filled with glory, ⁹ obtaining the outcome of your faith, the salvation of your souls.

–  1 Peter 1:1-9

I have my early morning routine. I get up usually very early, tend to necessities, and spend time reading…the comics! I actually pay for a daily email of about 20 comics, from Calvin and Hobbes to Non Sequitur, from BC to Frank and Ernest, from Bound and Gagged to Pluggers. The list goes on. It’s a habit. I’ll leave you to judge whether it’s a good habit or not. But I seldom miss. (I do also read a daily scripture email from the Moravians, read several newspaper articles and listen to some podcasts.) Then it’s to the (now virtual) workout, and on into the day.

These are daily habits, most of which serve me well. But I’m wondering what habits of hopefulness I pursue. These days present plenty of reasons to be discouraged. There are many opportunities for destructive habits we may also engage in as well. But we need not give them our attention now. 

What about some habits of hopefulness? Peter hints at three habits, or practices) that undergird and strengthen hope. 

1. Prayers of Praise: When we praise God two important things happen. We honor God and recognize who he is and how good he is and how worthy of honor and glory he truly is. We lean into his goodness, love, and glory when we praise him. And we put ourselves and all the world’s problems in perspective. Nothing and no one is as great, powerful, good, honorable, and good as God is. Praise helps us remember that. Knowing that God embraces our praise with his love emboldens our faith. Prayers of praise are a habit of holiness. This is how Peter begins this letter, by the way; this letter of hope.
2. Blessing Others: When we look for ways to bless others – and when we are able actually to do so – we are facing the world and life itself with an attitude that opens us to hope. When we’re looking for ways to do good to others, we are not focusing on the troubles all around us. We are looking to others’ needs and bring a ray of hope into their lives. They think, “Someone does care. I matter.” Hope begins to blossom. Peter’s approach to this letter and the people to whom he is writing is that of blessing them. He is a messenger of hope.
3. Acknowledging the Difficulties: When we ignore the brutal facts we don’t necessarily have hope. We have naive wistfulness. Hope shines brightest when the challenges all around us darken our view. This is the treasure and blessing of true hope. It is most precious under pressure and most powerful in the face of trials. For hope does not focus on the things at hand, but looks forward to a better time. That’s why Peter reminds the people that their faith and hope are precious, even though they “have been grieved by various trials.” 

Which of these might you focus on this week?

Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ,

To those who are elect exiles of the Dispersion in Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia, ² according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, in the sanctification of the Spirit, for obedience to Jesus Christ and for sprinkling with his blood:

May grace and peace be multiplied to you.

³ Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! According to his great mercy, he has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, ⁴ to an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you, ⁵ who by God’s power are being guarded through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. ⁶ In this you rejoice, though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been grieved by various trials, ⁷ so that the tested genuineness of your faith—more precious than gold that perishes though it is tested by fire—may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ. ⁸ Though you have not seen him, you love him. Though you do not now see him, you believe in him and rejoice with joy that is inexpressible and filled with glory, ⁹ obtaining the outcome of your faith, the salvation of your souls.

–  1 Peter 1:1-9

One of my favorite movie quotes is by a character (Red) played by Morgan Freeman in Shawshank Redemption. He is talking to Andy: Let me tell you something my friend. Hope is a dangerous thing. Hope can drive a man insane. 

I wonder if the disciples felt that way about seeing Jesus alive after his death on the cross. I wonder whether they just couldn’t allow themselves to hope for fear of being brokenhearted once again. That had surely happened once already. Their hopes had been dashed. And poor Peter! He had sounded so brave before Jesus’ arrest only to deny that he even knew Jesus after his arrest. 

So now Peter writes about hope, but not just any hope. He writes about a living hope. Living hope isn’t a faint wish, a feeble yearning, a far-fetched desire. Living hope courses with life. It is imbued with the vital joy of Jesus’ resurrection. It is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for us. A living hope will not disappoint. 

This is the gift of God in the resurrection of Jesus. Those who look to him and believe in him have hope. Those who delight in his love and follow his ways have a living hope.

Those who fight temptation, struggle with illness, and battle against fear, may also have this hope. For this hope is not tied to our outward circumstances. It does not depend on our station in life, or prosperity, our external comfort or our outward gladness.

Living hope lives in the face of death. It lives in the presence of sickness and disease. It thrives in the hearts of those who look beyond financial ruin, emotional distress, or physical difficulty to things yet to be seen. It looks to a full and complete experience of the redemption won by Jesus and foreshadowed by his resurrection from the grave. 

Such a hope will never be disappointed. We’ll not be let down when our hope is secured by Jesus. It’s safe to hope in Jesus.

Did I dream that? Or did it really happen? It might be a good report from the doctor. I could be an unexpected call from an estranged family member. Was it a Publisher’s Clearing House sweepstakes win? Probably not the last one, but you might have experienced good news that was almost too good to be true, and you wonder: Is it true? 

Reality these days probably doesn’t bring these kinds of good news reports. We’re most used to hearing of another case of COVID-19, or another restaurant closing, or a job loss. 

But what will happen when the quarantine is ended? What will happen when the restrictions are lifted? What will happen when things return to normal? We realize that it won’t be the same normal as before. But I wonder how long the awe and relief will wear off, and we will become blasé and indifferent to the relief we so earnestly yearn for. 

If we are not to become jaded by God’s blessings to us we will need to be careful, especially in the weeks and months following the relief we so desperately yearn for. It’s so easy to become jaded, complacent, and apathetic toward God: the very One who has rescued us.

This is the story of the entire Old Testament. Peaks of God’s favor are followed by valleys of the people’s unfaithfulness. It seems much the same for us today. Happy days give way to carelessness and complacency which are followed by recession and depression. And we yearn again for the good old days. 

It may seem like a dream when this ordeal is finally over. But let’s not grow complacent. Let’s remember God is the One who delivers. And while we may not want to connect our current crisis with a visitation of God’s judgment, we do well to call out to God for mercy in our time of suffering and stress. And when deliverance comes, let’s not think it’s a dream, but rejoice in God’s rescue, and rejoice and sing his praises!

Israel’s return from Babylon was a foreshadowing of the redemption of Jesus, and his resurrection. Jesus resurrection is a foreshadowing for us of a perfect and complete redemption that we will experience on the Great Last Day. Let’s also remember that when this difficulty is lifted from us. That will be a foretaste of the perfect restoration that is yet to come. We won’t be dreaming then.

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Jesus Christ is Risen! He is risen indeed! Alleluia!

1. The truth and proof of the resurrection (v. 1-11)
   1. Paul Lists 6 appearances (no women are mentioned!)
   2. 10 Appearances are recorded in the various Bible passages
      1. The women at the tomb (Matthew 28:9-10)
      2. Mary Magdalene (Mark 16:9-11; John 20:11-18)
      3. Two men of Emmaus (Mark 16:12; Luke 24:13-32)
      4. Peter in Jerusalem (Luke 24:34; 1 Corinthians 15:5)
      5. Ten disciples (Luke 24:36-43; John 20:19-23)
      6. Eleven disciples (John 20:24-29; 1 Corinthians 15:5)
      7. Seven disciples fishing in Galilee (John 21:1-23)
      8. Eleven disciples in Galilee (Matthew 28:16-20; Mark 16:14-18)
      9. Five hundred persons (presumably in Galilee; 1 Corinthians 15:6)
      10. James, the brother of the Lord (1 Corinthians 15:7)
2. The relevance of the resurrection reality (v. 12-34)
   1. If there is no resurrection…terrible implications!
      1. Paul’s preaching is empty
      2. Our faith is empty
      3. We are still in our sins
      4. No hope for those who have gone before us
      5. If only in this life we have hope we are of all people most to be pitied!
   2. Jesus’ resurrection is the firstftruits of those who have fallen asleep.
   3. The knowledge of the resurrection impacts how we live
3. The nature of the resurrected body (v. 35-49)
   1. It’s different!
   2. Like a seed
   3. Various analogies of two different kinds of bodies
4. The profound implications of the resurrection (v. 50-58)
   1. It is essential in order to inherit the kingdom of God
   2. It is the final culmination of deaths’ defeat
   3. Therefore…we put it all on the line for God, faith, hope, and Christ

How do you finish these sentences, “I believe in the resurrection…”

…because _________________________________________________________________________________.

…therefore ________________________________________________________________________________.

…even though ____________________________________________________________________________.

…and _____________________________________________________________________________________.