This week we pondered Jesus saying to Martha as they stood before the grave of her brother Lazarus, “I am the resurrection and the life.” I stand in the shadow of the death of my husband. You may stand in the shadow of the death of one of your dreams. The resurrection is something we believe and perhaps I have not done a good job of explaining. It is not like the phoenix in Harry Potter that rises from the ashes as an “ugly chick” to grow and die again in an eternal cycle thus symbolizing eternity. Resurrection is not like reincarnation where our life essence comes back in a higher of lower being depending on our good deeds. We do not even believe that resurrection is a stepping into a future based on how good we were in this life. We pondered Lazarus.2, a beggar who goes to the bosom of Abraham and stands whole, not a slave, in fellowship with the greats, unashamed.
Ultimately resurrection is a mystery we believe. Jesus appeared to his disciples and told Thomas to touch the nail prints, put his hand in Jesus’ side and Jesus ate fish with them. We choose to believe. So the song I want to focus on today is “Amazing Grace.” Resurrection is amazing grace for a sinner like me! I don’t deserve it but in Christ, I find forgiveness and a future.
So many artists have recreated this John Newton song. Newton was a slave seller who found faith in Christ and his life change, in a way resurrected. My all time favorite version is by Neil Diamond, “Pretty Amazing Grace,” the first link. I love the way the Pentatonix sing it in a more modern presentation, the second link. Blessings on your day.
On the Way to Wonder 