THOUGHTS ABOUT THE PASSAGE:
In March of 1981, President Reagan was shot by John Hinckley, Jr. , and was hospitalized for several weeks. Although Reagan was the nation’s chief executive, his hospitalization had little impact on the nation’s activity. Government continued. On the other hand, suppose the garbage collectors in this country went on strike, as they did in Philadelphia not long ago. That city was not only in a literal mess, but the pile of decaying trash quickly became a health hazard. A three-week nationwide strike would paralyze the country. Who is more important—the President or a garbage collector? In the body of Christ, seemingly insignificant ones are urgently needed. As Paul reminds us, “The head cannot say to the feet, ‘I don’t need you!’ On the contrary, those parts of the body that seem to be weaker are indispensable (I Cor. 12:21–22).” - David Parsons (Source unknown).
The apostle Paul opens up discussion concerning the nature of the resurrection body. He deals with two questions which foolish objectors raise (v. 35). The first question implies that resurrection is impossible; the second, that it is inconceivable.
1. "How are the dead raised up?"
2. "With what body do they come?"
A comparison is made between the resurrection of our bodies and the growth of a plant in the field. Seeds planted in the ground don’t grow unless they "die" first (v. 36). The plant that grows looks very different from the seed because God gives it a new body (v. 38). Our resurrection body will be somewhat, but not altogether different from our earthly body. The resurrection body is related to the earthly body in the same sense that the plant is related to the seed. This should not seem strange because there are different kinds of bodies here on earth in the animal kingdom (v. 39). There are also differences in bodies adapted to the heavenly realm and those adapted to the earthly realm (v. 40). Our present bodies are perishable and prone to decay. They are temporal, and weak.
APPLICATION:
If the body I am living in on this earth gives me trouble, I can claim the victory because I am going to have a body in heaven that is perfect. What a day that will be!
