Resurrection Power (2)

In the first post in this series, I asked what Paul meant when he says that “resurrection power” is at work in our lives.  In this post, we’ll start to get some answers by looking at the wider context, especially the opening paragraph of chapter 2.

Ephesians 2:1-10 is helpful in answering our question because it unfolds in a resurrection pattern.  The paragraph opens by describing Zombies, the walking “dead-in-their-trespasses-and-sins”:  “And you were dead in trespasses and sins, in which you walked . . .”  Cue the makeup and the Zombie soundtrack, cuz it starts to get ugly.

The Zombies are walking according to the world’s system and values, the Ruler of the powers of the air (2:2), which manifests itself in feeding fleshly desires and Zombastic mindset (2:3).  To understate the case, that’s kinda different from the spirit at work in us (1:13, 17) and the faith and love being shown by the saints in chapter 1.  The Zombie-folk are “children of wrath” and “sons of disobedience” (2:2)—a very different kind of sonship from those who are “adopted [by God] in Christ Jesus” (1:5). 

Now in most horror flicks, it’s normal folks who wind up becoming zombies, the “walking dead”.  Apparently (I’m no expert, but google makes us all quick studies, doesn’t it), zombies are frequently created these days by viruses, from mutant animals or aliens, as in Romero’s Night of the Living Dead.  Contract the virus, and you’re toast…but not before you get really, really hungry for humanity.

But in Paul’s world, you’re born a Zombie:  “you were by nature children of wrath” (2:3).  And paradoxically, it’s life that’s contagious.  Exposure to and identification with the living Jesus creates life:  “You’ve been made alive in Christ” (2:5).  That sounds like resurrection, and it sounds good.  More on what that means in part three.

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