Human of Dust/Human of Heaven

1 Corinthians 15:42-49New Revised Standard Version (NRSV)

So it is with the resurrection of the dead. What is sown is perishable, what is raised is imperishable. It is sown in dishonor, it is raised in glory. It is sown in weakness, it is raised in power. It is sown a physical body, it is raised a spiritual body. If there is a physical body, there is also a spiritual body. Thus it is written, “The first man, Adam, became a living being”; the last Adam became a life-giving spirit. But it is not the spiritual that is first, but the physical, and then the spiritual. The first man was from the earth, a man of dust; the second man is from heaven. As was the man of dust, so are those who are of the dust; and as is the man of heaven, so are those who are of heaven. Just as we have borne the image of the man of dust, we will also bear the image of the man of heaven.

Have you ever thought about what it means that we will also bear the image of the man in heaven?

Paul's theology is often weighty to sort through. It has it translation issues I think at times, and sometimes his word choice is problematic. 

When we think of Jesus, we must think of the man who is not simply the "man of heaven." Jesus was also a (hu)man of dust. A man of dust who redeemed other "(hu)men" of dust. 

But Jesus' last name wasn't Christ. Instead, Jesus WAS the Christ. The Cosmic Christ who was from time eternal and who came to us as dust to be like us. That human of heaven is who brings all things into one. Who creates unity. Who is one with the creator.

How this all happens has been debated and debated and theologized since the first century. And the truth is, our language will always fall short of explaining just how the man Jesus and the Cosmic Christ make it possible in his one being to redeem creation.  

To be one not just with God, but with each other.

To unify all things.

However Paul explains it, or a theologian explains it or your pastor explains it or however right or wrong we get the correct "belief" of it, one thing is clear.

God takes weakness and makes it strong.

God takes limited physical beings and makes them eternal.

God takes suffering and redeems it.

God takes what we have broken and makes it whole.

God completes everything God started.

And we bear God's image.

Remember that next time you feel weak, or limited, or suffering, or broken.

God's got more story to tell in you yet.

God, I am dust and to dust I shall return. But I also bear your image and your promise of completion. Remind me always to whom I belong.  Amen