I used to be like this.  But Jesus rose from the dead.  Now, I’m like this.

The Disciples Peter and John Running to the Sepulchre on the Morning of the Resurrection by Eugene Bernand

I used to be like this.

But Jesus rose from the dead.

Now, I’m like this.

I am captivated by how these sentences changed the world.  I can’t stop thinking about them.  St. Paul said, “I was the least of the apostles, unworthy to be called an apostle because I persecuted the church of God.  But by the grace of God, I am what I am, and his grace toward me was not in vain.” [1 Corinthians 15: 9-10]

I am grateful for the post-Easter space to reflect on Jesus’ resurrection and mine.  I am grateful to have to drill in to ‘what will really happen’?  What does this really mean for me?

One thing for sure…  I have a story to tell.

I used to be like this.

But Jesus rose from the dead.

Now, I’m like this.

Over and over, through millenia and across miles, people realized that the power that raised Jesus from the dead was power that could change their life.  Over and over people experienced new creation–  and they knew it was resurrection.

Being forgiven is a taste of resurrection.  We know what guilt and shame tastes like–  like chewing on pennies.  But forgiveness is your soul experiencing new creation.  It is literally new life replacing the death of guilt.

I used to be like this.

But Jesus rose from the dead.

Now, I’m like this.

What’s on either side of the story for you?  Who were you?  Who have you become?  I loved talking about this with our confirmation class back in March.  And now, I am thrilled that 13 people will stand before our congregation on Sunday to bear witness that:

I used to be like this.

But Jesus rose from the dead.

Now, I’m like this.

What new creation is God doing in you?