What does it mean to be raised from the dead?

Morning: Psalm 2, 110; Jonah 2:2-9; John 11:17-27

Evening: Psalms 29, 98; Isaiah 66:18–23; Romans 15:7–13

Yesterday was the funeral of a friend. Couldn’t Jesus have resurrected her, like Lazarus?  Yet, in Lazarus, Jesus invites a different understanding of resurrection. Lazarus will still die, like us, but he is called to embrace life again right here, as are we.  Resurrection is when life defeats the power of death here and now. This power of death shows itself in injustice, environmental disasters, mindless rules, distorted religion, gender violence, nuclear arms, judgemental behaviour … these suck the life out of life.  But we are called to put down these deadly powers, and embrace Life again, while we live.