Dignity, Relationships, and Cooperation (Conclusion)

There is a second man (1 Corinthian 15:47-49) who comes to express the fullness of dignity, relationships, and cooperation.  Jesus Christ, God himself incarnates to teach mankind and demonstrate for mankind what it means to live as full human beings. Jesus affirms the dignity of the outcast, demon possessed, and physically broken (Mark 1:21-40). He affirms the dignity of humanity, humanity which has been left to suffer under the strict interpretation of Torah (Mk 3:1-6).  Jesus demonstrates the quality of relationships that should exist between God and Man, and Man and Man ( John 10:14-17; Mt 9:9-14). Finally, in terms of cooperation, Jesus involves men and women to expand the work of his ministry, making known that hope of Israel had finally arrived (Mt 10; Lk 9:1-6).  The full expression of dignity, relationships, and cooperation we observe on the cross. On the cross, Jesus accomplishes our exodus from the slavery of sin, its destructive effects on our dignity, relationships, and cooperation by exiling himself. The Trinitarian God goes to great lengths to redeem a people-the Church-for the sake of his glory and to usher in a justice that vindicates his name and relieves mankind of the penalty, power, and presence of sin. 

The story does not end at a grave but begins in a garden. How can we look at the cross? It is not the end of life but it is the trumpet to sound the beginning of life.  The resurrection of Jesus Christ in a garden is God signaling to mankind the living and perfect Adam transforms all of life.  This Adam, Jesus Christ reaffirms dignity, relationships, and cooperation.  The risen Jesus communicates to mankind our dignity resides in a living God, our relationships are informed by a living Son, and our cooperation is empowered by the living Spirit. True equity in terms of dignity, relationships, and cooperation begins with our Trinitarian God. Therefore, social justice with a Gospel character has much to offer our society to affirm the dignity of the poor, heal racial relationships, lovingly embrace those of different sexual orientations, and foster cooperation to renew our communities and cites. 

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