VICTORY DISGUISED AS DEFEAT, HOPE RISING ABOVE FEAR

In Christ's resurrection we find hope for our resurrection. Our lowly bodies will be raised too. My scarred, mutilated and corrupted body will rise incorruptible.[2]  I will be like him.  I can only imagine: What it means I do not yet know. What I do know is Christ conquered death, the final enemy. Now I can only see dimly but then I will see him is, I will know just as I am known.[3] 

In the midst of disease—first with multiple sclerosis then cancer—my eyes turned toward Him. Hope grew.  Anticipation.

“In affliction they shall look for me. Come, let us return to the Lord, for it is he who has torn, but he will heal us; he has struck down, but he will heal our wounds”[4]

He is not a God of cruelty. I needed to trust him. As Job

said, Though he slay me, yet I will trust in him.[5] In my sorrows I drew nearer to Him because He was a man of sorrows.[6] Understanding. I needed to embrace Him on the cross before embracing him in his glorious resurrection.  I needed to see him in his death before I could marvel at the empty tomb. We can only appreciate the mountain peak after we have been in the valley. God needed to bring me low to strip my colossal blindness of pride and arrogance in order to see him indistinctly through tears. I had to realize that God is more interested in my holiness than my happiness.  And I have good reason to believe that holiness is where true and lasting happiness is to be found. 

When I began to understand this, the neurological ropes that bound my limbs were loosened and I stood and walked away from my wheelchair.  God has power over life and limb. Whatever happens is for our eternal good. Christ is the first-born of the resurrection of the dead. [7] We will follow him.  I do not know how any more than I know how my withered legs walked again. 

Easter morning declares death is defeated.  Hope rises above fear. For those who believe in Christ, we know we will rise just as He did and we will be with Him forever. God will be with us and we will be his people and he himself will wipe every tear we have every shed.

“And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying: “Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man, and He will dwell with them. They will be His people, and God Himself will be with them as their

God. He will wipe away every tear from their eyes and there will been more death or mourning or crying or pain. for the former things have passed away.” And the One seated on the throne said, “Behold, I make all things new.” Then He said, “Write this down, for these words are faithful and true.”[8]

Mark

See Andrea Bocelli's Easter Performance,

April 12th, from Milan's empty

Duomo Cathedral, livestreamed.

Check local listenings 

---

[1] 1Corinthians 15.25-28.

[2] 1Corinthians 15.42.

[3] 1Corinthians 13.10-12, cf. 2 Corinthians 3.18,

[4] Hosea 5.15b-6.1. 

[5] Job 13.15.

[6] Isaiah 53.3.

[7] 1Corinthians 15.20-23, cf. Acts 2.24, 1Peter1.3-5, Revelation 1.5.

[8] Revelation 21.3-5. Cf. Isaiah 25.8.