Resurrection: A “Payback”?

Let me offer this angle in addition to the limitless significance of Jesus’ resurrection. See the resurrection as a reward for the greatest volunteer the world has ever had. A precedence that can inspire millions of anonymous volunteers around the world. However, no matter how unsolicited this inspiring piece may seem to some. Others may not like this proposal. Volunteers will even protest the title. But certainly most will agree with the statement that Jesus is the greatest volunteer. So, let’s start from this common ground and fix the differences later in this article.

Biblical writers have various descriptions of Jesus’ voluntary act. But I like the Pauline version in Philippians 2:5-8 (NIV): “In your relations with one another, be of the same mind as Christ Jesus, who, being God in his very nature, did not regard equality with God as something for his own benefit, but emptied himself by taking the same nature. of a servant, made in the likeness of men. And being in the condition of a man, he humbled himself, becoming obedient until death, and death on a cross!“

The Gospel records instances in which Jesus insists on submitting to the voluntary process despite the supposed favor of the people who know him as the messiah. When John the Baptist seems reluctant to perform the baptism ritual, Jesus convinces him: “Let it be so now, because that is how it is convenient for us to fulfill all justice.” (Matthew 4:14-15)

Many times, Jesus rebukes his disciples in their actions to seek reparation for injustice and discrimination against their dignity. Unwelcome in his attempt to bridge the gap between warring cultures, he suffers discrimination in a Samaritan village. When James and John hint at punishment for the humiliating experience, Jesus forbids it. (Luke 9:51-55). Jesus calmly tells Peter to be quiet, in the latter’s attempt to fight the savagery of his captors: “Do you think that I cannot invoke my Father, and that he will immediately place at my disposal more than twelve legions of angel?”(Matthew 26:53)

He washes the feet of his disciples at the height of the leading wrestling position during the last supper. Lobbying by John and James and their mother for a position in the kingdom could have sparked the internal conflict. Therefore, no one seems to be willing to do the menial task that they previously like to take turns. Jesus volunteers.

Jesus consistently exemplifies the spirit of volunteerism in his lifestyle and teachings. He willingly follows all the requirements of the law, although in some cases, he deliberately avoids the unreasonable man-made insertion and imposition of God’s requirements. He successfully overcomes the final challenge in the Garden of Gethsemane.

Subsequently, divine justice expedites the award ceremony for the greatest volunteer in the world. St. Paul uses this decisive factor beautifully for the narrative of Jesus’ voluntary act: That is why God exalted him to the highest and gave him a name that is above every name, so that in the name of Jesus every knee should bow in heaven, on earth and in the underworld, and every tongue recognize that Jesus Christ is the Lord, to the glory of God the Father. (Philippians 2:10-11)

I am not advocating the pay mentality. The Bible abhors the practice of giving favor or doing service. Jesus even issues a rare rebuke to the perpetrators and perpetuators of this type of mindset in Luke 14:12-14. “When you give a lunch or dinner, don’t invite your friends, your brothers or sisters, your relatives or your rich neighbors; if you do, they can invite you back and you will be rewarded. But when you give a banquet, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, the blind, andYou will get hurt. Even if they can’t pay you, it will be rewarded in the resurrection of the just.”

Certainly, volunteers do not expect rewards. The last parable of the Gospel of Matthew (25,31-46) confirms this with the scenario of great surprises. At the end, during the award ceremony, as the chaff is separated from the grain, the sheep and the goats are divided, the result exceeds expectations. But the volunteers receive their prizes.

It is true that volunteers do not expect prizes. But who can question God’s divine justice in rewarding the faithful? Is there something wrong with seeing the resurrection as payment for volunteering?