The Risen One

I was by a graveyard today. I saw several families having graveside services for loved ones who had died over the winter. There were funeral directors and priests walking amongst the stones, getting ready for the task they have completed hundreds if not thousands of times before. Death, the biggest blow to the human ego, was showing off its temporary grip on humanity.

About five minutes later, I heard a song on my CD player by "Delirious." One line that jumped out was, "Jesus Christ the Risen One." It dawned on me that this title is what sets him apart from all of humanity. Who else can say they are the "Risen One?" He was not ONE of the risen, He is THE Risen One.

Now, there were others in the New Testament who died and were brought back to life - however, they were the "resusitated ones." They had the unfortunate experience of having to die twice. Jesus, however, was the "firstborn from among the dead" (Colossians 1:18). Jesus was not resusitated, He was resurrected (His perishable phyiscal body was transformed into an imperishable spiritual body). His risen body could appear in a locked house without going through the door - and yet He could eat. The laws that govern our physical bodies no longer governed His.

Scripture says that once He comes for His Church, and we are risen, we will become like Him. But for now, He holds the title as the Risen One. The days of graves and tears are numbered. He really is the only Hope we have.

I now see graveyards as the stage for the biggest production in human history: the resurrection of the dead in Christ to eternal life. Would that not be the most amazing thing to witness?