Still Quarrying 24 - Resurrection.

I’m told that today sees the start of British Summer Time - and I saw my first butterfly.   Not being too well versed in lepidoptery I can’t tell you what kind it was but it looked quite stunning.  

It’s not hard to appreciate why the butterfly was readily adopted by the Church as a symbol of the resurrection.  Beginning as rather unprepossessing caterpillars they shuffle off a rough and wrinkled exterior to emerge as one of nature’s most lively and colourful creatures.  Our resurrection bodies can be seen in the same way.  In death we leave behind the weakness and limitations of mortality and, as Paul would say, clothe ourselves with immortality.  (1 Corinthians 15: 54)   

In a day like today, warm and bright, I once stood at an open grave with the loved ones of a faithful Christian witness.  Before the coffin was lowered a butterfly flew out of the grave.  Some might say that from that moment any words were unnecessary but for me this was a confirmation of the words of Jesus, the greatest promise ever heard by human ears:  ‘I am the resurrection and the life.  If anyone has faith in me, even though he dies he will come to life.  And no one who is alive and has faith in me will ever die.’  (John 11: 25-26).  

Years ago I was given a gift of the Worship Book of the Presbyterian Church USA.  On reading the contents pages I was a bit perplexed not to find any services for funerals.  Then it clicked.  They were listed under ‘Witness To The Resurrection.‘  With the many options open to people with regard to funerals and the pressures on the Church to fall into line with expectations I hope we will never lose sight of that aspiration, to bear witness to the hope of resurrection which can only be found in Jesus.    

Witness To The Resurrection.

I once heard the American ‘humourist’ Joe Queenan commenting on funerals in his own country:

‘Funerals have become a cabaret.  There is no recognition that someone has died.  Eight or nine friends get up and tell jokes and talk about your golf game.’ 

I’ve never actually attended a funeral like that but I think I know what he means.  No one wants a funeral to be unduly morbid and a burden to those who attend but neither should it swing too much in the other direction.   Someone has died and that has had painful consequences in a family and in a circle of friendship.  That should be recognised.   I am grateful, however, that as a Christian pastor I can hold alongside that the hope that Jesus’ resurrection has brought to the world.   No matter how often I recite these words of Jesus they are always powerfully felt:

 "Do not let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God; trust also in me. In my Father's house are many rooms; if it were not so, I would have told you. I am going there to prepare a place for you.”

It was encouraging to hear that this hope was emphasized in the recent funeral of Cilla Black. Yes there were the funny stories that you might expect but there was also a powerful witness from Sir Cliff Richard.  A troubled man these days but he shared his own faith and with great conviction sang a song of Christian hope.  I had never heard it before but it speaks of God’s faithfulness to his people through all the dark experiences of life and  through death itself:

‘I see your wounded hands, I touch your side

With thorns upon your brow you bled and died

But there's an empty tomb, and love for all who come

And give their hearts to You, the faithful One.’

I often reflect on the great privilege of conducting funerals for people who were greatly loved by those who were closest to them, but even more being able to bring to their moment of heartache the promises of Jesus that can never fail.   I cannot think of anything better than standing in the tradition of the earliest believers who regarded themselves as ‘witnesses to the Resurrection.’