Season 3 Podcast 80 The Resurrection

The ResurrectionWhat better topic can we discuss during the Easter season than the resurrection. Even before[RM1] Christ, who is the “first fruits of them that slept, prophets, who saw the coming of the Lord, prophesied of the resurrection. In the Book of Job, we read.“25 For I know that my redeemer liveth, and that he shall stand at the latter day upon the earth: 26 And though after my skin worms destroy this body, yet in my flesh shall I see God: 27 Whom I shall see for myself, and mine eyes shall behold, and not another; though my reins be consumed within me.” (Job 19:25-27)I suppose many are familiar with the poetic description of the valley of dry bons found in Ezekiel.12 Therefore prophesy and say unto them, Thus saith the Lord God; Behold, O my people, I will open your graves, and cause you to come up out of your graves, and bring you into the land of Israel.13 And ye shall know that I am the Lord, when I have opened your graves, O my people, and brought you up out of your graves,14 And shall put my spirit in you, and ye shall live, and I shall place you in your own land: then shall ye know that I the Lord have spoken it, and performed it, saith the Lord. (Ezekiel 37:12-14)As a child I loved the spiritual, based on the valley of dry bones, written by African-American author and composer, James Weldon Johnson. It is a comical song, if not a spooky one, but then so is Ezekiel’s account of the resurrection of the Children of Israel.  It is not logical, of course, that we will inherit the same flesh and bones we had in mortality since everything in this earth is recyclable.  Speaking of the resurrection, Paul said,44 It is sown a natural body; it is raised a spiritual body. There is a natural body, and there is a spiritual body.45 And so it is written, The first man Adam was made a living soul; the last Adam was made a quickening spirit.46 Howbeit that was not first which is spiritual, but that which is natural; and afterward that which is spiritual.47 The first man is of the earth, earthy: the second man is the Lord from heaven.48 As is the earthy, such are they also that are earthy: and as is the heavenly, such are they also that are heavenly.49 And as we have borne the image of the earthy, we shall also bear the image of the heavenly.50 Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; neither doth corruption inherit incorruption. (1 Corinthians 15:44-50)In the resurrection, we will have flesh and bones, but apparently not blood.  Christ himself said,39 Behold my hands and my feet, that it is I myself: handle me, and see; for a spirit hath not flesh and bones, as ye see me have. (Luke 24:39)But, of course, it will be immortal flesh and bones and will never see corruption. Only through Christ can we be resurrected.19 If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men most miserable.20 But now is Christ risen from the dead, and become the firstfruits of them that slept.21 For since by man came death, by man came also the resurrection of the dead.22 For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive. (1 Corinthians 15:19-22)