This Sunday, continuing with our "We Believe" sermon series, which explores the Apostles' Creed, we come to the Scripture readings Ezekiel 37:1-14 and Luke 24:36-49. Ezekiel tells the story of the valley of the dry bones, and Luke tells us about one of Jesus' appearances to the disciples after he was raised from the dead. The final statement of the Apostles' Creed is "(I believe in) the resurrection of the body, and life everlasting." Both of these passages, I believe, relate to this statement.
Both the resurrection of the bones in Ezekiel 37 and the resurrection of Jesus demonstrates that death does not have the last word. That last word belongs to God, who continues to redeem and shape this world to the Kingdom that Jesus proclaimed.
Ezekiel 37: 1-14 tells a remarkable story:
One day, Ezekiel is by a river in Babylon when he sees a remarkable vision that reveals the glory of God. He hears God’s voice speak to him. God tells Ezekiel that he will speak God’s Word to his fellow exiles, fellow Israelites (they were in the foreign land of Babylon). God says, “You shall speak my words to them, whether they hear or refuse to hear.” And then, the most bazaar thing happens. God hands Ezekiel a scroll with the Word of God on it. And God tells Ezekiel to eat the scroll; to literally consume it; to put it in his mouth and swallow it. Then God says, “Go to the house of Israel and speak my very words to them.” What an image, huh? It is as if Ezekiel will be regurgitating God’s Word for his fellow exiles/Israelites. Friends, God’s word was never intended to lay dormant on a page. God’s Word needs to get inside of us; we can consume it. Why? Because they are words of life; words that bring life.
That’s what Ezekiel experiences in the valley of the dry bones. God tells Ezekiel, “Prophesy to these bones, and say to them: O dry bones, hear the word of the Lord.” Ezekiel preaches the Word of God to a valley filled with nothing but dry bones (talk about a tough audience). But that Word has an immediate effect. Something happens: bones join together; muscle and tissue and flesh form around those bones. They have been resurrected.
And Jesus, as told in Luke 24: 36-49, is also raised from the dead, making appearances to his friends. He offers them peace, proves that he's not a ghost (by showing them his wounds and eating fish with them). After this, he tells them that they are witnesses to these things. That he died and was raised and came to be with them. And we are, too. Though Jesus hasn't shown up in bodily form for us, his presence through the Holy Spirit is with us. God has provided a way for us to have eternal life through him. God has given us new life, showing us that death does not have the final word.
And its not just death that we worry about, its the things that death represents. It's the evil in this world. I'ts the injustice, the fear, hate, prejudice, racism, poverty, sickness, and negativity. There is no doubt that these are powerful forces in this world. And they matter. They really matter. These things hurt people, contributing to the state that our world is in. All this means that we are in need of a savior, a loving God that would do something as drastic as provide a way out. And that is Jesus. That is embracing God's love and grace for you. These dry bones will cry out. We are witnesses to these things, and what God has done.
Prayer:
Lord, help me to accept your invitation to live a new life, full of grace and peace. When life gets most difficult, help me to keep seeking you. Stay close to me, O God, for you are my comfort. In you, I receive life everlasting. Thank you for laying down your life for me, so that I can live life abundantly with you. In your Son's name I pray, Amen.
In Christ,
Jack
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