To Die Convincingly

I was struck the other day by one of the differences between the Nicene Creed and the Apostle's Creed. I generally prefer the Nicene Creed, which is rather more verbose and which covers more details. (This will come as no surprise to the sorry recipients of some of my more lengthy emails.)

But there's one little area where it seems to my eyes that the Apostle's Creed goes beyond what is covered in the Nicene Creed. The Nicene Creed says this of Jesus Christ:

...For our sake he was crucified under Pontius Pilate;
he suffered death and was buried.
On the third day he rose again
in accordance with the Scriptures...

The Apostle's Creed covers the same ground with these words:

...He suffered under Pontius Pilate,
was crucified, died, and was buried.
He descended to the dead.
On the third day he rose again...

I like that extra bit in the Apostle's creed about Jesus descending to the dead. I find it helpful.

Why? Because I need to be reminded that Jesus didn't spring up from the cross right away. I need to be reminded that Jesus didn't rise from the dead instantly, but rather descended to the dead convincingly.

I need to expect, even welcome, the same treatment.

The constant theme of the New Testament is that we are called to share in Christ's death. To glory in enduring insults for his name. To accept suffering alongside him as part of the package. I am (slowly) learning how better to do that.

So far, so good.

The problem is this: I'm not patient. I want to spring up from the cross. I don't want to wait in a cold, cold grave. I don't want to die, die. That would be taking this crucifixion thing a bit too far, wouldn't it?

Actually, it wouldn't, but these are rather figurative words. An example might help explain what I mean.

When someone slanders me, my natural reaction is to defend myself right away. And sometimes that's the right thing to do. But sometimes it's best to simply walk away. I have a hard time walking away, though I am (slowly) getting better at it.

Even when I do walk away, however, I find it harder still to truly leave the matter with God. To let it (and with it, my pride) die. I don't let go of the memory. I keep it alive and well in my thoughts. Sure as shootin'... I eventually find myself reliving the situation in the presence of a sympathetic ear. I engineer the resurrection of my wounded pride with the help of a family member or a close friend.

Why? Because I want to be vindicated, and I'd prefer that it happen now. Figuratively speaking, I can die for a few minutes. Even a few hours. But a few days? Weeks? My track record indicates a firm negative on that.

Waiting on God's timing is not to my liking. God's vindication might not come for years. It might even lie beyond the grave. That's too long.

So I spring from my cross instead.

And here is a point where I think both creeds fall a bit short, because both creeds indicate that Jesus rose from the dead on the third day. Which is, of course, true. But it was the Spirit of God that raised Jesus from the dead. Jesus did not rise by his own effort and volition. The creeds are a bit vague on this point.

Now I'm not looking to split hairs here on the nature of the trinity. There being only one God, it gets complicated quickly when we begin to discuss the three Persons therein.

But, that said, it's theologically and practically significant to me that it was not Jesus who raised himself from the dead, but the Spirit of God who did it. The testimony of scriptures is rather clear about this.

Acts 2:24
But God raised [Jesus Christ] from the dead...

1 Peter 3:18
[Jesus Christ] was put to death in the body but made alive by the Spirit...

Romans 8:11
And if the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead is living in you, he who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through his Spirit, who lives in you.

Fine. So why do I consider this a matter of practical importance? Because if I wait for the Spirit of God to raise me, I'll be on God's timeline. If I seek to do it myself, I'll be on my timeline.

No prizes for guessing which course of action is the better one.

No prizes for guessing which timeline is more hurried.

One salient characteristic of dead people is that they don't try to revive themselves. We don't seem to have picked up on this subtle point, but it wasn't lost on Jesus. He died convincingly and waited patiently. Most of his followers, sadly, do neither.

That, I suspect, is why Power of the sort spoken of in Romans 8:11 is notably absent in the lives of most Christians today, myself included. Because we refuse to die convincingly, we don't give the Spirt a chance to demonstrate his Power by raising us convincingly.

There is a solution, however, and it lies in our learning not only to die with Christ, but also to descend with him. When we do both, I am confident we'll be in a very good place for the Spirit to raise us up and do wonderful things through us, to the glory of the God we serve.

I thank the Apostle's Creed for this wonderful reminder.