No 30: That We might Die to Sin and Live to Righteousness

When I try to understand Paul, and the rather dense theological reasoning which Piper goes in for - especially in this and the next chapter - the question that arises for me is this:  Is it working for you?  Perhaps my blog will cheer up those for whom it isn't.  Let me repeat the comforting word I heard when writing blog No 10:  "It's OK if you don't understand it, or even like it."

Because the wonderful thing about the crucifixion, resurrection and ascension of Jesus is its utter simplicity.  You don't have to add much explanation to 'get it'.  "When I am lifted up from the earth, I will draw all men to myself" (John 12:32), Jesus prophesied.  St John adds his comment that this was "to show the kind of death he was going to die" (John 12:33); but Jesus' words take in His resurrection and ascension too.  You cannot speak of one, without the other two.  St Peter, staggeringly inspired at the feast of Pentecost, wraps all three up so powerfully and succinctly that I expect preachers have studied it ever since as a model for announcing the gospel (Acts 2:22-36).  It's all there.  I can do the same:  tell people what things Jesus did and taught, the terrible circumstances of His death, the astounding reversal of His resurrection, and then His full unveiling as "Lord and Christ" by ascending home to the Father.  I do think we owe it to our neighbours to put this account before them in as unadorned a way as possible, nearer to the experience of its first witnesses.  The Holy Spirit did the rest then: do we need to leave more to Him now? 

As soon as they could, Christians began to use pictures of these events, for pictures bring us nearer to watching what happened at the time.  I am sure that there is still no substitute for pictures.  The enduring icon of our faith is the crucifix - not just the empty cross.  A statue or painting of the Son of God hanging crucified speaks more powerfully than a hundred sermons.  I'd like to see churches make a big investment in photographs and film.  You cannot deny that this is a perfect fit with modern culture, where images proliferate.