1 John
3:1-3
See what kind of love the Father has given to us, that we should
be called children of God; and so we are. The reason why the world does not
know us is that it did not know him. 2 Beloved, we are God’s
children now, and what we will be has not yet appeared; but we know that when
he appears we shall be like him, because we shall see him as he is. 3 And
everyone who thus hopes in him purifies himself as he is pure.
The
widow's son comes back to life. Jairus' daughter comes back to life. Lazarus
even comes back to life. It is even recalled that dead people came back to life
during the earthquake at Christ's crucifixion. These people give us a sign of
what is to come. But these people do not become like what the children of God
will be. But when Christ returns we will see him and we will be like him.
When are
the dead raised? The Last day! What will we look like when we are raised from
the dead? JESUS! How old will we be? JESUS! St John is saying we can not really
answer these questions. We can think about them and reflect upon what Jesus
looked like in his perfect, yet wounded body. But we will not know until that
day.
The point
then is not about answering these questions. The point is about where is our
hope placed. Is our hope placed in some eternal glory in heaven? Is our hope in
the resurrection of all flesh? Is our hope in Jesus Christ's death and
resurrection? Maybe it should be in all these things together and not separated
from one another.
"And everyone who thus hopes in him purifies himself as he
is pure." You are made pure and holy now as you hope for the everlasting
glory of Christ to be revealed in our renewed bodies, and all of creation.
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