1 Corinthians 15:42-50: a reflection

42So also is the resurrection of the dead. The body is sown perishable; it is raised imperishable. 43It is sown in dishonor; it is raised in glory. It is sown in weakness; it is raised in power. 44It is sown a natural body; it is raised a spiritual body. There is a natural body and there is also a spiritual body. 45So also it is written, “The first man Adam became a living soul.” The last Adam became a life-giving spirit. 46However, that which is spiritual isn’t first, but that which is natural, then that which is spiritual. 47The first man is of the earth, made of dust. The second man is the Lord from heaven. 48As is the one made of dust, such are those who are also made of dust; and as is the heavenly, such are they also that are heavenly. 49As we have borne the image of those made of dust, let’s also bear the image of the heavenly. 50Now I say this, brothers, that flesh and blood can’t inherit God’s Kingdom; neither does the perishable inherit imperishable.

Paul describes the hope of the resurrection body with a series of contrasts. What is sown perishable is raised imperishable; what is sown in dishonor is raised in glory; what is sown in weakness is raised in power; what is sown a natural body is raised a spiritual body. The body that dies, weak and perishable, is not the last word; it will be raised transformed, imperishable and glorious. The seed that is buried gives way to something far greater than what was sown.

Notice the transformation the resurrection brings. The body we now have is perishable, subject to weakness, decay, and death; it is sown, like a seed, into the ground. But it will be raised transformed, imperishable, glorious, no longer subject to weakness and decay. What is buried in weakness and dishonor is raised in glory; the resurrection does not merely restore the old body, but transforms it into something far greater. The perishable puts on the imperishable.

That hope is a comfort in the face of our own weakness, decay, and death, and the death of those we love. Our bodies are perishable, subject to weakness and decline and finally death; and this can weigh heavily on us. But for those who are Christ's, the perishable body is not the end; it will be raised imperishable and glorious, transformed. What is sown in weakness will be raised in glory. When you feel the weakness and decay of your mortal body, or grieve the death of those you love, hold onto the hope of the resurrection: the perishable will be raised imperishable, the weak raised glorious. The body sown in weakness and death is not the last word for those in Christ; it will be raised transformed. Let the hope of the resurrection body comfort you in the face of weakness and death, for what is sown perishable will be raised imperishable, transformed into glory.

Lord, Paul describes the hope of the resurrection body: what is sown perishable is raised imperishable, what is sown in weakness is raised in glory; the body that dies is not the last word, but will be raised transformed. Let that hope comfort me in the face of my own weakness, decay, and death, and the death of those I love. My body is perishable, subject to weakness and decline and finally death; and this can weigh heavily on me. But for those who are Christ's, the perishable body is not the end; it will be raised imperishable and glorious, transformed. What is sown in weakness will be raised in glory. When I feel the weakness and decay of my mortal body, or grieve the death of those I love, help me hold onto the hope of the resurrection: the perishable will be raised imperishable, the weak raised glorious. The body sown in weakness and death is not the last word for those in Christ; it will be raised transformed. Let the hope of the resurrection body comfort me in the face of weakness and death, Lord, for what is sown perishable will be raised imperishable, transformed into glory. Thank you for so great a hope.