Monday morning munch #4

Morning and welcome to another week! Howz it going? Like you perhaps, last week I had to stay back for a meeting in the office. It was Tuesday night so, like previous times, I expected it would be me and the chirping crickets on George Street. After 8pm, George street is a bit of a ghost town. To my surprise, I dodged a pram, saw a young cosy couple walking to the Quay and a fair few suits cross at the lights – where are all these people flocking to? And then it hit me, it’s Vivid! My newsfeed has been full of posts from this festival of lights – has yours? It really is the lightshow that draws kids, mums and dads, workers – people from all walks of life – together.

In our previous Munches, we’ve seen that Jesus is the only contact point between God and us. God not only creates, God not only speaks but God comes. His communication is precise. Indeed, it is so precise God even addresses the communication barrier within you and me. Jesus’ death removes the barrier – at best a foolish ignorance, at worst a calculated denial – by offering forgiveness. But is this the high point of our 5 day tour of the Bible? Is this the tweet God gives us to follow?

Having examined one of Jesus’ “I am” claims in the last Munch, let us look at another that John, an early follower of Jesus, records for us (John 11:25):

I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me will live, even though he dies …

Jesus’ death is central but the message of Christianity is more than his death. It is both negative and positive. Jesus dies to remove the barrier but also offers life, a life that flourishes. Life that is free from the fear and shadow of death for it is even life after death – life “even though he dies.”

To some, this will sound fanciful. Yet to others, this will resonate deeply, tapping into a suspicion that there’s something more than just this life. For everyone, the question remains – how can you be certain of this? Does Jesus back up his claim?

Well, if Jesus remained dead in his first century tomb, then his self-made claim is hollow. He is an over-promiser and one which ought to be ridiculed publicly. However, if he didn’t remain in the tomb, if he could not be found, if he appeared to hundreds, if he spoke, ate as evidence that it really was him and no other – the one who was dead was really alive, he really was resurrected – then his claim to be the resurrection and to offer life that flourishes is rational. He has life after death so those who follow him will also have life after death. Further, his offer is powerful. In the shadow of death that hangs over each of us, hope can be found.

Vivid attracts crowds that flock to see the light. In the darkness, the impressive lights draw people from all walks of life together. I wonder if the crowds flocked to Jesus for a similar reason (John 8:12):

I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.

Jesus is an impressive light in the darkness of death. Jesus offers life after death because he came to life after death. Here is the highpoint of our tour. Here is the tweet worth following.

Here are two quick questions to munch on during this week. Your answers or comments are welcome. Feel free to post them below:

• Jesus claims “I am the resurrection”. What evidence would you like to see to show that Jesus was alive?
• Everything rests on Jesus’ shoulders. Do you think he can sustain the weight of our expectations?