RESURRECTION
… the truth is that Christ has been raised from death, as the guarantee that those who sleep in death will also be raised … So, then, … don’t let anyone move you off the foundation [of your faith]. Always excel in the work you do for the Lord. You know that the hard work you do for the Lord is not pointless. (1 Corinthians 15:20; 58)
Last week, we discussed the fact that the greatest disruption to life is death, and the ensuing distraction from the normal course of life and busyness can often bring realignment and redirection to the wisely contemplative; enabling them to leverage the jarring upheaval to refocus and retract to a course that ensures the highest attainment of the things that truly matter in life and destiny. This week, we will examine the fact that the greatest disruption to death is life, the latter a paranormal experience only made possible by the power of The Resurrection (the use of the article before the word “Resurrection” is intentional, because The Resurrection is not merely an event, He is a person!).
… Martha answered, “I know he will rise again in the resurrection at the last day.” Jesus said to her, “I AM THE RESURRECTION and THE LIFE. The one who believes in me will live, even though they die; and whoever lives by believing in me will never die. Do you believe this?” (John 11:23-26)
Nothing in life is more final than death. Both biology and Bibliology demonstrate the singularity of the former, the inevitable end of which is the latter (see Hebrews 9:27; 2 Samuel 14:14; etc.). Death connotes a grave (pardon the pun), intractable, and irrevocable conclusion that is as final as it is terminal. Jesus’ daring pronouncement regarding The Resurrection was therefore nothing short of brazen – in the light of these facts. By that statement, He was clearly asserting His superiority and dominion over death and its effects. But He, distinct from any other human who ever lived, had the backing and qualifications to support such a bodacious claim. Among others, John 1:1-3 unequivocally declares the fact that He is not just God, He is the giver and originator of all life. This is best understood by dissecting the three Greek Words the New Testament uses to describe the concept of life.
Three Kinds of Life
Bios – The physical, biological life which requires a physical body for its ongoing existence and ceases to exist once the body expires. It commences at conception and terminates at decease (see Psalms 139:13-16; Ecclesiastes 12:7; etc.).
Psusche – The soulish part of a person which facilitates and permits his interaction with his earthly environment. The soul houses and governs man’s ideologies, mental proclivities and psychological orientation. It represents the overall psyche of a person and is the result of God’s breath on his physical body (see Genesis 2:7). Outside of this breath from God (called nishmat in Hebrew), humanity would live in mere bodies with a mindless physical existence devoid of intellect, quality, and meaningful interaction with other earth elements. Psuche is the word from which “psyche,” “psychology,” and “psychiatry” are derived.
Zoe – is the divine life exclusively possessed by God. It represents His transcendent, Self-generating, exceptional existence which distinguishes Him from every other being and epitomizes one of the unparalleled attributes of Divinity. Zoe infers an unequaled existence, both qualitatively (i.e., eternal, unending life beyond the earth realm), and qualitatively, (i.e. a unique, superlative, limitless life). It is an overflowingly abundant, bountiful, flagrant, immeasurable and verdant life of preeminence.
Although originating from and exclusively God’s, the genes of this type of life are passed onto any person who receives Jesus’s sacrificial death on his or her behalf. A divine exchange occurs where this person receives the superior, God-quality life in place of the base, ordinary life he or she had been living prior. Beyond their physical (bios) life, this person receives Zoe, which empowers them to live in realms of possibility and dominion that are inaccessible to ordinary persons simply living by virtue of bios.
Having become children of God by receiving Jesus1 (i.e., acknowledging the fact that they are sinners, turning away from those sins and turning to Christ for His forgiveness and rescue from the sin life and death), His Zoe genes pass down to them so they can become like Him.2-3 They are empowered to be and live just as qualitatively and quantitatively as He does, growing in Him to understand and walk in the reality of this superior God-level inheritance.4-8
Live It Up Superlatively!
Friend, if you are a lover of Jesus and have received Him as Lord and Savior, you have embedded in your spiritual DNA a superior kind of life that distinguishes and elevates you above all.9 This unparalleled, God-kind of life opens you up to a treasure chest of limitless possibilities and a superlative destiny that is inaccessible to the average person. This Zoe operates both within and beyond one’s physical life and has the potential to catapult a person into unimaginable heights and God-dimensions. The key is to understand that it is part of one’s spiritual genetic make-up, offers an untapped, superior kind of living which transcends the physical but is not limited to one’s afterlife. Your Zoe life began the day you received Jesus as your Lord and Savior (see John 1:12; 1 John 3:9) and will last forever (even after your bios is over). Be cognizant of the fact that it is not just reserved for “the sweet by and by,” it is for the “live here and now” – for every child of God. It offers a superior, God-quality of living presently, concurrent with your biological life, adding divine possibilities and a God-like distinction to your life on earth.
Are you facing a situation that seems dead and hopeless? Have you experienced or are currently experiencing the loss of a loved one, marriage, job, home, finances or any other thing of import? Be encouraged; Jesus demonstrated His victory over death by coming back to life, and you (or your circumstances) will too if you trust in Him! If you have a relationship with God through Jesus Christ, there is NOTHING that you are facing or have been through that He cannot turn around to your advantage.10-12 Beyond that, He can gloriously resurrect every dead and hopeless situation, regardless of its imminence, certainty or irrevocability. Remember, THE RESURRECTION IS A PERSON, NOT AN EVENT, and has repeatedly and irrefutably demonstrated His dominion and mastery over death and its associated tyranny and threats.13-16 He will do it again for you!
So this Easter, celebrate the King of Life with overflowing faith, love and joy! Live it up in grand style, ensuring that you leverage the plethora of bountiful benefits and possibilities your superlative spiritual genes confer on you. Retract from death and lower existence into superior Zoe living!
“He who did not spare His own Son but gave Him up for us all, how will He not also, along with Him, freely give us all things? … By His divine power has given us all things that are needed for life and godliness, through the knowledge of Him Who called us …” (Romans 8:32; 2 Peter 1:3)
For questions on how to know God personally through Jesus Christ, grow in your relationship with Him, or for any other inquiries, please email: [email protected]
Bibliography
- John 1:12-13
- 1 John 3:9
- 1 Peter 1:23-24
- John 1:4 & 12
- Psalms 82:6
- John 5:24
- John 10:10
- 1 John 5:4
- John 3:31
- Romans 8:28
- Genesis 50:20
- Philippians 1:12-14
- Acts 2:24
- Ephesians 1:17-21
- John 10:17-18
- Acts 2:32
For Your Resurrection & Listening Pleasure
https://music.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLwigoJUkpNjXJUdcvfCDdK-yw_8sPlRkG&si=b3SADdTmySVU3uCF