Living the Resurrection

By Joan Weber

I have always loved the Song of Solomon in the Old Testament. It vividly describes God's abundant love for us by comparing it to the love between a man and woman. The Song of Solomon writer creates a portrait of how beautiful we are in God's eyes. And the writer goes out on a limb to boldly describe the power of God's love: "Set me as a seal upon your heart...for love is as strong as death" (Song of Solomon 8:6). For the Hebrew people, no human reality was stronger than death and nothing had ever defeated death. So to say God's love is as strong as death would have been seen as incredible to the Hebrews.

For us Christians, love which is only as strong as death is not so impressive. Why not? Jesus destroyed the power of death through his resurrection. When we celebrate Easter, the most important, most miraculous of all days, we are reminded that Jesus' love conquered death, that although he did indeed die, his love for us was not destroyed. When he rose from the dead, he appeared to Mary and the apostles, loving them just as he had before he died. As St. Paul wrote,

"When this perishable body puts on imperishability, and this mortal body puts on immortality, then the saying that is written will be fulfilled:
'Death has been swallowed up in victory.'
'Where, O death, is your victory? Where, O death, is your sting?'
The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ." (1Corinthians 15:54-57)

The challenge for us is to believe not just in the resurrection itself, but in its power to redeem. Jesus' victory over sin and death challenges us to love without reservation, without hesitation, without fear. When we love others totally, we are affirming our belief that love is stronger than death. We are saying "Yes" to being redeemed, to choosing love over hate and goodness over sin.

I often wonder how those who don't believe in the resurrection can risk loving. I can't imagine loving someone totally, with all my heart, if I thought that love-that relationship-would end when the person died. We Christians know that love can and will continue after death. What a gift we have been given in the resurrection of Jesus!

As ValLimar Jansen sings in Say So on her You Gotta Move CD,

When the world fills my mind with doubt, say so.
I try to recall what it's all about, say so.
It's the love of God washes me clean, say so.
I've been made whole, I've been redeemed.
I've been redeemed. I've been redeemed.

We have been made whole by God's unconditional love for us. Let us pray for the courage to live as redeemed people and to love others without fear:

God of love, we thank you for the gift of your Son. We thank you for the sacrifice of his very life out of love for us. Help us to accept this great sacrifice by living as redeemed people, loving others without holding back. Alleluia! Amen!

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Spirit Compass reflections are developed in partnership
with the Center for Ministry Development.