Would it make a difference to your faith if in time someone discovered bones that belonged to Jesus?

Speaking Christian in our Journey

Easter

John 20-21

Easter is the most important and most ancient Christian festival and with our celebrating the “Lord’s Day” on Sundays it is a reflection of its importance. It is not just one day but Easter refers to the time when we understand Jesus to have risen from death and then as we hear stories of Jesus appearing to his followers in physical ways.

Many people understand that Easter is the physical event in which God raised Jesus body from death to life. The tomb where his body laid was empty when the women went to mourn and when the disciples went to see as well. The tomb was empty because God raised Jesus to life. Jesus is the Son of God and this signifies Easter as the defining time when death was defeated not only for Jesus, but for all who believe in him.

“Christ has died, Christ is risen. Christ will come again.” This is the Memorial Affirmation referring to Jesus’ life, death and resurrection. But what does this mean for us today? Jesus was also reported to have appeared in ways that transcend the physical. He appears to the disciples in a locked room, as a stranger to two of his followers who do not recognize and then he disappears.  The question we need to ask is what did it mean for Jesus followers in the first century to say that God raised Jesus from the dead? And what does it mean for us? Jesus lives. Jesus is Lord

Jesus lives. Many Christians have had experiences of Jesus- in visions, and mystical experiences others in quieter ways. Jesus is Lord and is a divine reality that is one with God. This feature distinguishes experiences for the Post Easter Jesus from other experiences of somebody who has died because Jesus’ presence is continuous in those who believe.

Luke 24:5 “The angels at the tomb ask the women who have come to anoint his body, “Why do you look for the living among the dead? He is not here, but has risen.” Jesus is not in the land of the dead—but alive for evermore. The key question for us as we continue to observe Holy Week is whether we believe in Jesus and whether he is alive for you.

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REFLECTION:  
Do you believe that Christ is risen? Physically? Would it make a difference to your faith if in time someone discovered bones that belonged to Jesus? Why and How? What does it mean to believe that Christ is present with us now?

May the grace of God be with you as you celebrate new life in Jesus this Easter!

Please reflect and respond to these questions as you share pray for your understanding.

Please respond to http://revcathysblog.blogspot.ca/

PRAYER

God of  hope and everlasting life, we praise you for Jesus’ life, death and resurrection for through Jesus we have been gifted with hope and love. We thank you for prophecy fulfilled and the joy that comes through the symbols of Easter- an empty tomb, eggs for new life and the hope of eternal life. Be with us as we worship you now and always. Amen

Borg’s book invites us to explore Christian terms and phrases which help us to define our faith in Jesus Christ. He presents different perspectives of Christians through history as he describes the words the phrases that for many of us have a special meaning yet we cannot always articulate. This is the last in this series of Reflections on Borg’s book at this time. Watch for a new series on Christianity and Religion beginning next week.

Marcus J. Borg, Speaking Christian: Why Christian Words Have Lost Their Meaning and Power- and how they can be restored, Detroit: Gale Cengage Learning, 2012.