I Corinthians 15:35-58
Just as we have borne the image of the man of dust, we shall also bear the image of the man of heaven. (v. 49) I think Paul is saying here that we currently bear the image of Adam and Eve, but in the future in our resurrected bodies we will bear the image of Jesus. And the image of the resurrected Jesus is worthy of comment. Mary Magdalene did not recognize the resurrected Jesus, thinking Him to be the gardener. (John 20:11-18) And the two disciples walking along the road to Emmaus did not recognize Jesus until He broke bread with them. (Luke 24:13-35) Immediately thereafter when these two disciples were telling their story to the other disciples Jesus appeared in the midst of them and they barely recognized Him, thinking that they were seeing a spirit. (Luke 24:37) Finally, Jesus came through locked doors to meet with His disciples on that resurrection Sunday. (John 20:19) So Jesus was unrecognizable in all these occasions until He revealed Himself.
So I continue to wonder what our resurrected bodies will look like. I comment in the first link below that we will see one another as we knew each other at our various stages in life. Think how television and movies can slowly morph one person’s face into another person’s face. That’s my image of our resurrected bodies, but an instantaneous recognition of that other person, whether that facial feature is the person at age 20 or 40 or 60 or 80. No matter who we meet or where we met in life, we will bear the image of the resurrected Jesus and that’s enough for me!
See also: May 15 / I Cor. 15:35-49; May 16 / I Cor. 15:50-58
Just as a side note: 1Cor.15:50-58 is beautifully presented in Handel’s Messiah. I can’t read it without hearing the music that goes along with it.
I’m jealous!! I love listening to Handel’s Messiah, but I know nothing of the words. My music background is severely limited!