“Christmas is a little bit of heaven!” Have you ever heard anyone say something along those lines? Some people will say it because it is the time of year when the entire family is able to get together. Children may feel that way because it is a two week vacation from school and teachers may say it because it is a two week vacation from children. For some, maybe seeing the smiles of children make this time of year a little bit of heaven. Whatever it may be, people have their reasons for saying, “Christmas is a little bit of heaven.” But very few, if pressed, would say Christmas is LITERALLY a little bit of heaven.

Last week we heard about John the Baptist. We heard how John the Baptist came on the scene in the spirit and power of Elijah and preached repentance to the people. We heard how he baptized people for the forgiveness of sins in the Jordan River. We heard how he pointed people to the One coming after him, the One whose sandals John felt unworthy to untie.

To begin this morning, may I say to you that there are two ways we can approach the next few weeks in our culture. On the one hand, we can say, along with just about everyone, “Christmas is near!” And there is a way of saying those words that “detaches” them from real meaning and significance. The word “Christmas” used more like it’s a deadline. “Christmas is near! I gotta have the presents purchased, wrapped, in the mail or under the tree. I’ve gotta have the cookies made and the decorations up. I’ve gotta have the cards mailed, at least to the people who sent one to me! I gotta have the food ready for Christmas Day dinner. I’ve gotta have the guest room ready. Ahhhh! Christmas is near!” The sentence triggers anxiety.

The people stood watching. (v. 35) This is the first verse of our text this morning. That verse may seem rather insignificant. Yet it actually reveals something quite interesting. You see, the word used for “watching” is a word that means more than simply glancing at something. It is a word that means to carefully observe something. To concentrate on something. The people are watching and trying to discern the meaning of this strange crucifixion.

The matter before us today is that of the resurrection of the dead. The resurrection lies at the core of Christian teaching. Belief in the resurrection begins with the belief that Jesus himself rose from the dead and it ends with the resurrection of all the dead when Jesus returns. And we do not play word games with the word “resurrection.” We don’t say “resurrection” and mean some kind of metaphorical resurrection or metaphysical resurrection. By resurrection of the dead we mean that corpses will come to life again.