I never understood professional wrestling. My introduction came from the likes of "Hulk" Hogan and Randy "Macho Man" Savage. These were grown men--grotesquely, unnaturally grown--slathered in oil, dressed in spandex, bearing nicknames; and they slapped other men for a living. This was vaudeville for bullies who wanted to throw chairs. This was gymnastics for giants who wanted to land punches. Ohhhh yeahhhhh! But the alternative was worse: competitive wrestling. Picture gangly junior high boys, their ribs showing through their onesies. As they danced on the matt with their opponent, every spectator relived the horrors of puberty: acne and armpit hair on full display. Ohhh nooooo! Though wrestling does not have the fanfare of most modern sports, its history and tradition is rich. It is one of the oldest contests of the Olympic games. Sumo wrestlers are iconic. Moreover, like running and boxing, wrestling appears in the Bible as a metaphor for the Christian life (Ps.
People leave more quickly after the church service on Easter morning. They may have hams to glaze or eggs to hide. I wonder if they rush out to avoid one more call-and-response. ( Indeed , no one likes the word "indeed" more than a pastor on Resurrection Sunday.) Regardless, I watch as the last pink dress and turquoise shirt dash through the exit. Turning off the lights, I mutter, "It is finished." Jesus's words echo in the dark and silent room. I pause, inhale deeply, and give thanks. Then, I depart, already plotting my sermon for the coming Sunday. Life does not end after Easter. Indeed , the resurrection merely begins our work. Therefore, my dear brothers and sisters, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain. (1 Cor. 15:58, NIV) Here are four ways the resurrection undergirds Christian work. 1. The Resurrection Gives Us Living Hope Paul based his faith