READING FOR MAY 3, 2024: GENESIS 23, 2 CORINTHIANS 5, PSALM 37:27-40
GENESIS 23 Moses uses the same number of verses to describe the death and burial of Sarah as he did for the story of the sacrifice of Isaac, one of the most dramatic events of the Old Testament. In reviewing the entire Bible, it is surprising how much attention is given to burial practices. For example, the burial story of Jesus involved Joseph of Arimathea negotiating with Pilate, the Roman Governor, to take the body. Then Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews, brought one hundred pounds of spices (John 20:39) to apply to the body before it was wrapped in linen and laid in the tomb. We also see loving care provided for the burials of Lazarus and John the Baptist. In fact, according to author Joe Carter, “On 200 occasions in the Old Testament burial is mentioned as the standard disposition of dead bodies.” This despite burial was more the exception than the rule in antiquity. Wherever Christianity spread, burial replaced cremation.
There are just a few mentions, perhaps only three, made in the Bible of what might be considered forms of cremation. Here is one from Amos 2:1-2: “This is what the Lord says: “For three offenses of Moab, and for four, I will not revoke its punishment, because he burned the bones of the king of Edom to lime. So, I will send fire upon Moab and it will consume the citadels of Kerioth.” Other cremations include the body of Saul who was first beheaded in battle and whose burned remains were a later buried (1 Sam. 31) and the burning of the three offending parties whenever a man married both a mother and her daughter (Lev. 20:14).
As there are no clear biblical commands for burial and against cremation, it would be inappropriate to advocate with certainty for burial as God’s will for believers. There are, however, some possible principles to consider. The body, though it will decompose, still is an important part of our humanity: “Now God has not only raised the Lord but will also raise us up through His power. Do you not know that your bodies are parts of Christ?” (1 Cor. 6:14-15). Also, later in this same chapter: “Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God, and that you are not your own? For you have been bought for a price: therefore, glorify God in your body” (vs. 19-20).
Certain biblical imagery, such as baptism, may also provide support for burial: "Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father” (Romans 6:3-4). Another is that of a seed planted in the ground that later rises: “So, also is the resurrection of the dead. It is sown a perishable body; it is raised an imperishable body” (1 Cor. 15:43). Let’s not start a new “Burial Only Denomination.” Instead let’s consider how our lives and our deaths might point, even symbolically, to the wonderful Gospel of Jesus Christ.
2 CORINTHIANS 5 Paul continues the discussion we have been having in response to Genesis 23. As a tentmaker himself, Paul compares our earthly body to a tent and our eternal home to a heavenly dwelling or a house. Maybe Jesus had this in mind when He said in John 14 that He was leaving His disciples to prepare a place for them in heaven. Paul, however, understands how those of us who are getting older feel while still on earth: groaning with ailments. Of course we want to fix this now with medical care, but the only permanent fix is to be clothed with our heavenly dwelling. Paul says it’s not morbid to long for this. In fact, knowing this along with the deposit of Holy Spirit gives us courage while we are still here, groaning away.
Paul then gives us valuable information about the future: 1) upon leaving our earthly bodies we, as believers, will be present with the Lord—no delay; 2) this arrangement will be much better for us than our current status; 3) it should inspire us to focus on pleasing the Lord now; and 4) all believers will appear before Jesus and to be evaluated and compensated for what we did on earth. Sounds scary for those of us who don’t enjoy performance evaluations, but we can trust in God’s great love for us. So, what does all this make Paul do? He’s dedicated to persuading others to stop living for themselves but to live for the One who died and rose again for us. Are we persuaded by Paul? Are we persuading others?
Paul reminds us becoming a Christian is not just going to church rather than staying home, but it’s becoming new creatures, almost a different species of humans. We view life with new lens because we are reconciled with Jesus, who although always loved us, could not have had relationship with us due to our sin. This wonderful reconciling ministry was given to Paul, who calls himself God’s ambassador. Maybe the Lord wants to appoint us as well. What an honor!
Finally, Paul explains the amazing concept known as imputation. Jesus took on our sins, so that we, by grace through faith, receive His sinless righteousness in the sight of God. What a deal!
PSALM 37:27-40 Sometimes we hear scholars say there are not any references to life after physical death in the Old Testament. Yet consider these verses: “Turn from evil and do good,
so that you will dwell forever” (Psalm 37:27). Perhaps there is a way to explain this to mean the opposite of what it says. Certain biblical scholars are talented in that way.
We remember that turning from evil, meaning repenting, is also stressed by John the Baptist and Jesus. Some further context is necessary, though, to clarify that it is not just doing goodthat saves us. Psalm 37:3 had already introduced the full sequence: “Trust in the Lord and do good.” It’s faith or trust that saves us and then prompts our good works. An even fuller picture of God’s justice is presented in Romans 3:26: “He [Jesus} would be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus.” This fantastic eternal future, though, is not available to nonbelievers: “But wrongdoers will altogether be destroyed; the future of the wicked will be eliminated” (Psalm 37:38). This refutes the currently popular belief known as universalism.
