Easter: Life is Worth Living
John 20:19-31
I often remind myself that Easter is not over after Easter Sunday. In the church calendar, Easter is a season that begins on Easter Sunday and ends almost six weeks later, on the day of Ascension. So Easter is more than just one day, but it is a season that recalls the 40 days that Jesus spent with his disciples after his resurrection, and before his ascension into heaven.
In the story about Thomas, we learn that it is not wrong to have doubts. We also learn that doubts, when expressed, explored, and moved through, can lead us to a deeper faith. There is a little of Thomas in every one of us. Sometimes we have doubts, and we are often skeptical of things that we cannot see. We like proof, explanations, and we want to see things for ourselves before we believe. Fortunately, in this story, Thomas is there to be a doubter and to demand to touch Jesus, before he will believe that Jesus is alive. Thomas does what many of us would do in the same situation – he wants proof before he will believe.
The real challenge for us may not be simply to believe that Jesus was raised from the dead. The real challenge for us may be to believe that the resurrection of Jesus makes a difference in our lives, that is, that it makes our lives worth living.
On the first Easter Sunday, the Gospels say that two women went to the tomb where Jesus had been buried. The story goes that when they arrived, the tomb was empty. So they went and told the disciples that the body of Jesus was not in the tomb. The news eventually spread throughout the city of Jerusalem, and eventually there were two rumors that began to circulate to try to persuade people that Jesus had not been raised and that he was not alive.
One rumor was that Jesus had not really been dead when he was placed in the tomb. The explanation was that he had been in a coma, a deep sleep, and had awakened after he had been placed in the tomb. There are a couple of facts in the story that challenge this rumor. On is the account in John’s Gospel that says when Jesus was on the cross that a soldier pierced his side with a sword and that blood and water came out of the body of Jesus. This was a sign that his body had already begun to break down and that he was indeed dead before they removed him from the cross. There is also an unanswered question about how Jesus could have moved the large stone in front of the tomb by himself after hanging on the cross for several hours. He would have been too weak to move the stone by himself.
Another rumor that circulated was that the disciples had stolen the body of Jesus from the tomb. The rumor was that they had probably come in the night to take his body and to lead everyone to believe that he was alive. A problem with this rumor is that Matthew’s Gospel says that Pilate set a Roman guard at the tomb and that the tomb was sealed with a Roman seal. This meant that the disciples would have to deal with the guard, and break the seal. It doesn’t look like the disciples had that kind of courage after Jesus had just been executed. In fact, they were hiding, because they were afraid.
One of the strongest arguments for the resurrection of Jesus is found in the change in the disciples. After the death and burial of Jesus, the disciples were afraid and weak. But after they saw the empty tomb, and then saw Jesus, and heard his words, they believed. And they were strong and full of courage, even willing to die. They were ready to die, because they believed that death was not their great enemy. Their greatest enemy was that they would have nothing to die for. Their faith made all the difference in the world. Faith was more important for them than life or death.
The faith of the first disciples has continued on in the church for centuries. It means realizing that people are not in control, and cannot always explain everything. It means knowing that God can do anything. God can give a new resurrected life to a dead body. God can bring something good out of any situation. God can bring hope to hopeless situations. God can take a tragedy and use it for good. God can turn sorrow into joy, turmoil into peace, and fear into faith and courage. That is what happened with the early disciples during the season of Easter. And that is God’s promise for us, if we will have faith, and trust in God.
One of the hymns of the Christian faith expresses trust in God who gives hope and new life:
Because he lives, I can face tomorrow; because he lives, all fear is gone.
Because I know he holds the future; and life is worth living, just because he lives.
In John’s Gospel, before he saw the risen Christ, Thomas said,” Unless I see the mark of the nails in his hands, and put my finger in the mark of the nails, and my hand in his side, I will not believe. “A short time later, Jesus appeared to Thomas and said, ”Put your finger here, and see my hands. Reach out your hand and put it in my side. Do not doubt, but believe.” Thomas answered: “My Lord, and my God!” Jesus then said, “Have you believed because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen, and yet have come to believe.”
It is a blessing to believe that God raised Jesus from the dead, and that Jesus is alive. It is a blessing to believe that God can do anything, including bringing good things out of bad situations. It makes life worth living.
Thursday, April 28, 2011
Sunday, April 17, 2011
A Holy Week
A Holy Week
Matthew 21:1-11
The week that begins on Palm Sunday, and ends on the following Saturday, is the most important week in the life of Jesus. For Christians it is also the most important week in human history. It is called Holy Week because it is different, set apart, and sacred.
The week begins with a Palm Sunday parade. Jesus rides into Jerusalem on a donkey. There are palm branches waving, coats lying on the road, and “Hosanna!” is shouted. History tells us that this was a traditional celebration of the entrance of a powerful leader, although most leaders probably rode a horse instead of a donkey. The crowd thought they were welcoming a messiah, but what kind of messiah was he? Would he exercise political power or servant power? The crowd was hoping for a political messiah who would set them free, but Jesus knew that this was the beginning of the end of his life here on earth. He knew that the shouts of “Hosanna!” would soon turn to shouts of “Crucify him!”. The end was near.
The week includes a Thursday supper, known as the Last Supper. It was a Passover meal, one that was first celebrated centuries earlier in the days of Moses. It was a traditional Jewish meal during which the people were reminded that God had saved their ancestors from slavery in Egypt, and had brought them to the Promised Land. After the meal, Jesus took the unleavened bread and a cup of wine and gave them, and the Passover meal, new meaning. While holding the bread he said, “This is my body given for you.” And then he took the cup and said, “This is my blood given for you.” This meal marked a new beginning for the followers of Jesus. After his death and resurrection they would receive the bread and cup and hear the words of Jesus, “Do this in remembrance of me.”
Thursday of Holy Week also includes the scenes in the Garden of Gethsemane where Jesus prayed. While the disciples sleep, Jesus prayed, “Not my will, but Thine be done.” While he was praying, and the disciples sleeping, the soldiers came and arrested him. Jesus didn’t resist, and during his trial he was quiet. The verdict was guilty; the sentence was death.
Friday is the day of crucifixion and death. According to the Gospels, it was a painful and agonizing death for Jesus. While hanging on the cross, Jesus offers forgiveness and hope. He prays for forgiveness for those who have caused his death. “Father, forgive them, for they don’t know what they are doing.” He gives a hopeful promise to one who is crucified at the same time. “Today you will be with me in paradise.” Jesus dies that afternoon and is buried before the sun sets.
The week ends on silent Saturday.
A new week begins on Easter Sunday. It is a new beginning for Jesus and his followers.
Holy Week reminds us that the Son of God humbled himself and became obedient to death, even death on a cross. (Philippians 2:5-11) Those first Palm Sunday participants didn’t know that it was the beginning of the most important week in history. But we know, and we can say “Hosanna! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!”
Matthew 21:1-11
The week that begins on Palm Sunday, and ends on the following Saturday, is the most important week in the life of Jesus. For Christians it is also the most important week in human history. It is called Holy Week because it is different, set apart, and sacred.
The week begins with a Palm Sunday parade. Jesus rides into Jerusalem on a donkey. There are palm branches waving, coats lying on the road, and “Hosanna!” is shouted. History tells us that this was a traditional celebration of the entrance of a powerful leader, although most leaders probably rode a horse instead of a donkey. The crowd thought they were welcoming a messiah, but what kind of messiah was he? Would he exercise political power or servant power? The crowd was hoping for a political messiah who would set them free, but Jesus knew that this was the beginning of the end of his life here on earth. He knew that the shouts of “Hosanna!” would soon turn to shouts of “Crucify him!”. The end was near.
The week includes a Thursday supper, known as the Last Supper. It was a Passover meal, one that was first celebrated centuries earlier in the days of Moses. It was a traditional Jewish meal during which the people were reminded that God had saved their ancestors from slavery in Egypt, and had brought them to the Promised Land. After the meal, Jesus took the unleavened bread and a cup of wine and gave them, and the Passover meal, new meaning. While holding the bread he said, “This is my body given for you.” And then he took the cup and said, “This is my blood given for you.” This meal marked a new beginning for the followers of Jesus. After his death and resurrection they would receive the bread and cup and hear the words of Jesus, “Do this in remembrance of me.”
Thursday of Holy Week also includes the scenes in the Garden of Gethsemane where Jesus prayed. While the disciples sleep, Jesus prayed, “Not my will, but Thine be done.” While he was praying, and the disciples sleeping, the soldiers came and arrested him. Jesus didn’t resist, and during his trial he was quiet. The verdict was guilty; the sentence was death.
Friday is the day of crucifixion and death. According to the Gospels, it was a painful and agonizing death for Jesus. While hanging on the cross, Jesus offers forgiveness and hope. He prays for forgiveness for those who have caused his death. “Father, forgive them, for they don’t know what they are doing.” He gives a hopeful promise to one who is crucified at the same time. “Today you will be with me in paradise.” Jesus dies that afternoon and is buried before the sun sets.
The week ends on silent Saturday.
A new week begins on Easter Sunday. It is a new beginning for Jesus and his followers.
Holy Week reminds us that the Son of God humbled himself and became obedient to death, even death on a cross. (Philippians 2:5-11) Those first Palm Sunday participants didn’t know that it was the beginning of the most important week in history. But we know, and we can say “Hosanna! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!”
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