Dem Bones

#ThinkAheadThursday

Dem bones, dem bones, dem dry bones.

Dem bones, dem bones gonna walk again.

Dem bones, dem bones gonna rise again.

This song, which has been performed by our Children’s Choir, is an old spiritual used to provide the hope of resurrection in dire situations, based on Ezekiel 37.

While Ezekiel 37 is not one of our readings for Sunday, I am planning on using it as a way to understand our main reading: Mark 13. Mark 13 contains Jesus’s promise of a New Age. With the world the way it is, I was hesitant to keep Mark 13 as the reading, as it’s one of the apocalyptic readings that people use to try and predict the future.

I remember when Ebola was ravaging West Africa, and I saw preachers proclaim that this was surely a sign of the end times. Turns out – pause for dramatic affect – it wasn’t.

I’m sure there are preachers saying the same thing about coronavirus.

I’m not one of those.

(Here’s your opportunity to leave this page if you were hoping for that!)

Instead, Mark 13’s promise is pointing to a world altering event: the crucifixion and resurrection of Jesus Christ.

This twofold event mirrors Ezekiel 37, when God leads the prophet Ezekiel to a valley filled with dry bones; a literal valley of the shadow of death. Ezekiel sees a vision of God breathing into these dry bones – the epitome of death and hopelessness – to bring them back to life.

In Mark 13, Jesus was giving a preview. Jesus on the cross is another example of death and hopelessness. And yet… at the moment of his death, the veil is torn. And yet… three days later, Jesus lives.

You may feel like you’re walking through a valley of dry bones. These feelings may increase in the days to come. But no bone is too dry for God to breathe life into. No death is too final for God to resurrect. No situation is too dire for God to whisper hope into.

Where is God breathing new life into you?

Where is God breathing new life into our world?