No Burying of Dead Monarchs in the Car Park

On Monday, we received the news that a skeleton found in a Leisceter car park was the remains of King Richard III. I really like my history and love archaeology programmes, and so watched with interest a documentary about the process they undertook to find his body.

The programme began with basic background information on Richard III, the people involved, and the car park in question. The group interested in finding Richard’s body had completed extensive research and taken great care to try and locate his body before any digging commenced. When they had the funding and support for the dig, it began in earnest. On the first day they discovered bones, but as this was the site of a church and priory, no one really expected much from them. However, as the layout of the church was discovered, the indication was that this could indeed be the remains of the dead monarch. After years of testing the bones with carbon dating, DNA and other tests, it was confirmed that Richard III had been found. The joy the Ricardians (historians who are interested in Richard III’s life) felt was amazing. Here was their lost king.

Now, the arguments have begun over where he should be re-laid to rest.

This seems a strange topic for a blog post, I agree. But this news topic started me thinking about the resurrection – yes, before Easter or even Lent!

Finding the body of Richard took someone digging in the right place, but even if the whole world was to be dug up – we would never find the body of the King of Kings, Jesus.

Jesus is risen from the dead. There is no body to be found.

I don’t know what difference that makes to you, but I want the power of the resurrection to be at work in my life daily. And it can be for you.

I’m currently reading a book called ‘Practising Resurrection’ by Cris Rogers. I’m only about half way through, but it has already started to impact my view on the true meaning of the resurrection and the power it can have. The book challenges the view that the death and resurrection of Jesus being about sin management; a way of sorting out the problem sin poses to a relationship with God by having someone else punished. If that was the case, Jesus would never have had to be resurrected – he was killed and so sin was now ‘managed’. The true power of the resurrection is that the whole of creation is instantly re-created in that moment. And we can share in that resurrection by dying to ourselves so Jesus can live in us.

By dying to ourselves, we are placing our own needs and desires beneath those of God. Its truly submitting to the will of God in our lives. Our lives no longer belong to ourselves. In Acts 2:42 - 47 we are given an example of this new resurrection community:

All the believers devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching, and to fellowship, and to sharing in meals (including the Lord’s Supper), and to prayer.

A deep sense of awe came over them all, and the apostles performed many miraculous signs and wonders. And all the believers met together in one place and shared everything they had. They sold their property and possessions and shared the money with those in need.  They worshiped together at the Temple each day, met in homes for the Lord’s Supper, and shared their meals with great joy and generosity—  all the while praising God and enjoying the goodwill of all the people. And each day the Lord added to their fellowship those who were being saved.

The book explains this idea further, and I would highly recommend it.

So let us remember, as the arguments continue over which Cathedral will be honoured with the bones of King Richard III, that the King of Kings is living and his home is in our lives. We are called to live life as a resurrection community, and grow God's Kingdom.