Jesus Christ is Alive, but What Does That Mean? (Thurs. June 20)

The Word of the Day is "alive." We confess that the Risen Christ is alive.  But what does it truly mean to say that Jesus Christ is alive? We often take this concept for granted, assuming its meaning is universally understood. But have we ever stopped to consider how we would explain it to someone who was not raised in the faith? In our reading of Acts 25:13-19, a pagan Roman governor has questions about a "certain Jesus" who "had died whom Paul affirmed to be alive" (OSB vs. 19). Today, we explore the testimony that Jesus is alive with fresh eyes, seeking to discover the profound meaning of His resurrection anew.

 In today's reading, Roman soldiers have rescued St. Paul from a mob and taken him to Caesarea. He has been imprisoned there for two years. Now, a new governor has arrived. The Jewish authorities in Jerusalem have taken the opportunity to pressure the new governor to execute St. Paul. But in response to the danger of being tried in Jerusalem, Paul has appealed to his Caesar, that is, to an "imperial tribunal in Rome"(OSB note on Acts 25:12).

Paul's Case Bewilders the Roman Governor 

In our reading, the new governor, Festus, presents the case to King Agrippa II and his sister Bernice. The governor, after trying St. Paul according to Roman law, finds that the accusations against the apostle seem to be merely issues about the 'religion of the Jews' and 'a certain man named Jesus' (vs. 18). The magistrate is perplexed that these matters would stir up such intense animosity, showing the depth of his misunderstanding.

The governor asks King Herod Agrippa II about the case because Agrippa is the ruler of Galilee and knows Judaism better than he does. As a pagan Roman, Festus admits that he knows little about the Jewish "religion."  The Greek word that The New King James Version translates as "religion" means the "fear of the gods" (Strong's #1175). It can signify respect for the gods or the fantasy of believing in them. The King James Version chose to translate the word as "superstition."  That makes more sense than The New King James Version's more neutral translation. Without any background or knowledge of Judaism, the pagan ruler naturally would think that the matter was no more than a conflict over irrational beliefs and magical thinking. 

The First Reports of the Resurrection Were Considered Fantasy

In the Gospel of Mark, the disciples initially struggle to believe Mary Magdalene when she tells them that 'He was alive and had been seen by her' (Mark 16:11). Similarly, in the Gospel of Luke, the followers of Christ also doubt Mary Magdalene and other women who claim to have found Jesus' tomb empty and seen 'a vision of angels who said He was alive' (OSB Luke 24:4). Luke reports that 'their words seemed to them [the disciples] like idle tales, and they did not believe them' (Luke 24:11), 

Moreover, the two disciples on the road to Emmaus did not initially recognize the Risen Christ. They told him that some women had found Jesus' tomb empty and had seen "a vision of angels who said He was alive" (OSB Luke 24:23-24). They were as perplexed about the report of Jesus' return to life as Festus was. 

For Reflection

All these reports suggest that the message that Jesus is alive does not stand alone. One can only understand it in context. Thus, the case of the travelers to Emmaus is the paradigm for learning the meaning of Christ's overcoming of death. The Risen Christ himself put His crucifixion and resurrection into the context of the scriptures. "He expounded to them in all the Scriptures the things concerning Himself" (OSB Luke 24:25). 

The Living Christ Holds the Keys to Hades and Death 

In the Book of Revelation), John, the seer, provides a fundamental understanding of what it means that Christ came back from death to life. John sees a vision of the Lord Jesus, who applies the prophecy of Isaiah 44:6 to Himself. He declares, "… I am He who lives, and was dead, and behold, I am alive forevermore. And I have the keys of Hades and Death" (OSB Revelation 1:18). 

 There are two parts to this thought. The meaning of the first part (that He is alive forever) is given in the second (that He holds the keys to Hades and Death). 

The risen Christ summarized the Scriptures, saying, "Ought not the Christ to have suffered these things and to enter into His glory?" (OSB Luke 24:25). The Lord rose from the dead to reclaim His glory with the Father and the Holy Spirit. He returned from death to sit at the right hand of God as Lord and Judge of all.  

Therefore, Christ possesses the keys of Hades and Death. He is the judge who will decide between death and life. For some, it will be the Hades of death and eternal separation from the God of life and love. For others who accept the grace of Christ by faith, it will be everlasting life beyond death in communion with the Living God and His saints. 

Therefore, He is alive, and He possesses all authority.  He has power to open or shut, to raise up or cast down, and fto orgive or withhold forgiveness. His resurrection proves His divine role as the ultimate judge, deciding who will enter the Kingdom of blessedness with Him and who will remain forever imprisoned in the realm of death, underscoring the profound implications of His resurrection for our salvation.  

So, let us not just acknowledge but rejoice with the angels, disciples, and saints that Christ is alive. Let us put aside our unwavering faith in Him.  Let us firmly trust that He will save us from condemnation and that He will open the gate for us into His everlasting Kingdom on the Last Day. 

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