John 5:19-29: It's a "THRILLER"... Thriller of a Call!

Michael Jackson in "Thriller" click here to watch

My sister had, well technically I think she still has, a Michael Jackson doll. Michael, the doll, had curly black hair, he had on a red jacket with a black “V-design” and a red pair of pants. This doll was the spitting image of Michael Jackson from his music video “Thriller.” I can remember seeing my sister play with this doll in our childhood home, but I do not remember ever being allowed to watch “Thriller” when I was young. If you have not seen “Thriller,” it is much more than a typical 3-5 minute piece of four-dimensional “art” created to accompany a musician’s song. Made in 1982, this mini-horror film used state-of-the-art costuming, plus some memorable choreography to make a lasting impression on the music industry for decades to come. Yet, I never saw “Thriller,” I just saw my sister’s doll. That was until I was in high school.

I can remember hearing the song and thinking that it was catchy and a bit spooky, but it was not until MTV was celebrating the 20 year anniversary of the music video that I actually ever saw the full length (it’s about 15 minutes long) version. Even though I was in high school, and the zombies, werewolves, and creatures were no longer state-of-the-art, I was legitimately scared after watching it. In fact, when I again sat down to enjoy Jackson’s creative genius I got goose bumps.

Whether we like him or not, and whether or not we like any films about zombies or werewolves or vampires, registered somewhere within our collective, cultural identity is a fixation with the undead, the half-human/half-monster, and all creatures magical. Without being careful I tend to let this creative view of reality run amuck in my mind. Perhaps this is why Jackson emblazoned a message at the beginning of “Thriller” to warn viewers that he is not a member of the “Occult.” He did not want others to believe that he practiced such “demonic” behavior.

I struggle, and I believe, we together tussle with understanding what happens after death, what happens when we die, and what Jesus means when he says, “the time is coming when all who are in their graves will hear [the Father’s] voice and will come out.” Is it like “Thriller”? Will we crawl from beneath the surface of the earth to dance as rotting corpses? Are we going to be consumed with terrorizing the living? Do we become life-sucking creatures? Hollywood’s vivid imagination can be a tempting trap into which we can teeter, but the gospel according to John outlines a different path beyond the grave.

In the passage directly before today’s, Jesus heals a man who had been ill for thirty-eight years. Even though he tried desperately to enter the pool of Beth-zatha, which supposedly possessed healing powers when its waters were stirred, it is not until Jesus tells him to get up and take his mat that his illness vanishes. The religious authorities eventually discover that Jesus did this miraculous deed, yet he did it on a Sabbath. When confronted about this Jesus says that even on the Sabbath, “My Father is still working, and I also am working.” Enraged all the more, the Jews seek to kill him, not only is he breaking the Sabbath rules, but he also thinks God is his Father.

Jesus responds to these authorities in today’s passage by speaking about the unity of the Father and the Son. Not only do the Father and the Son work on the Sabbath, they also both have the power to raise the dead back into life. Actually, Jesus is the one who has explicitly been given this ability. Now, this is where we get back to “Thriller.” Certainly, it is fun to go see horror movies, to think about zombies, and to wonder what it is like beyond the grave; yet, the example of Christ Jesus shows us exactly where we are headed and it does not involve zombies.

Later in John right before Jesus is betrayed he prays to the Father that those who believe in him may be one with one another, and one with the Father and the Son. To be united with the Son means that we are united in his life and in his death and in his resurrection. Jesus is the one whom we follow into the resurrected life, so if we look at Jesus’ post-death life we get a glimpse of what life looks like on the other side of the grave.

Jesus appears to Mary Magdalene, but at first she thinks he’s the gardener. When he calls her by name she recognizes him. Resurrection life may not mean looking exactly as we have, but we shall still be known by those whom we love.

Jesus comes among the disciples, even with their doors locked. He greets them saying, “Peace be with you.” His hands and his side, his scars from his gruesome death, he shows them. We retain those marks that we have obtained in our life and in our death. Jesus, then breathes on them, “Receive the Holy Spirit. If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them; if you retain the sins of any, they are retained.” Post resurrection life is about the Spirit. It is about forgiveness of sins, even forgiving those who wound us.

Jesus appears to others including Peter, as they were fishing. They did not recognize him at first, but when he told them to cast their nets on the right side they hauled in an abundance of fish. In this multitude they recognize the LORD. Life in the resurrection will be full of abundance.

Jesus asks Peter if he loves Jesus three times. Each time Jesus gives a command: Feed my lambs, tend my sheep, and feed my sheep. This in many ways unbinds Peter’s 3 denials that he uttered before the crucifixion of Christ, and gives a charge for life in the Resurrection. Be forgiven, be love, and care for the flock.

Life after death, life beyond the grave is not about zombies or corpses or vampires. As good as Michael Jackson’s “Thriller” is to me, it does not give an accurate picture of what is coming to us. Life on the other side of the grave is about redemption, forgiveness, the Holy Spirit, love, and care. The time is coming when we will hear the voice of the Father even in the grave! And, if we trust in Jesus Christ and his ability to lead us beyond this life, we can hear this call joyfully, and respond by following him into the resurrection of life!