Is. 65:17-25 First cut

 

Note that we have a huge number of texts available for the Easter vigil readings that one could apply to Easter Sunday as well. I'm not sure as yet how to handle those here.

1) Only God can bring life from death.

2) Now the suffering servant is vindicated. On Easter, it is an easy transition to the risen Jesus.

3) This is a good place to move away from predictive end times work and move into the decisive change God has made in the world through the resurrection. How does Easter set in motion a new world, here and for our futures?

4) We see in v. 25 a fulfillment of ch. 11:6-9.

5) Blessings, maybe of the original Eden, but going beyond them, overwhelm the cursed ground.the tree of life wins.

6) v. 24 is a remarkable view of communication that seems to be understood without needing to even be expressed.

 

Is. 25:6-9

1) This is a tricky passage for Easter and for the grieving. Easter starts death being swallowed up forever, but it certainly hasn't yet banished it from our lives. We need to exercise some restraint with brave words about Easter defeating death in the face of hospices.We  certainly wait for a time when the shroud is removed from human life, but it has not yet beaten our ancient foe. The denial of death is a potent force in our day. At the same time, how does the resurrection affect our view of death and the afterlife. What will our resurrected form be like. Certainly, if Jesus is the pioneer of resurrection, it cannot merely be a soul released from the chains of the body?

2) v. 8 does affect our tears on Easter but it certainly does not obviate them. Notice that it is replayed in Rev. take on the passage.

3) The swallowing is an interesting image in that Death was portrayed as swallowing up life, as a boa constrictor perhaps. Now death, the swallower, is being swallowed up.