It’s Easter Time – The Time of Rejoicing

An empty tomb, a risen Savior, a living Lord

“And as they went to tell His disciples, behold, Jesus met them, saying, "Rejoice!" So they came and held Him by the feet and worshiped Him” (Matthew 28:9).

For many, Easter is a reenactment of the crucifixion, a lifeless form on a rough hewn cross. It is remembrance of the brutal suffering and agonizing death that Jesus endured. The portrayal of the Easter story is replayed in churches throughout the world with children’s stories, dramas, cantatas, and sermons. The eulogy is rehearsed and the sordid sufferings of the passion of Christ are displayed.

While all these events are important in the telling of the gospel story, it should be remembered that the ultimate climax of the crucifixion is not the cross but the tomb. Even then, it is not the burial place but the vacuum that remained in the sepulcher on Sunday morning. The power of the story is not in the dying but the living. Other religious leaders lived and died and their remains are with us today. Other prophets preached and perished and all that remain are manuscripts and mausoleums. But this teacher not only left a written record but a living legacy. None other can testify of immortality, no one else has remained victorious over the grave.

Legends grow with the telling through time. It was known in the first century that the story of the resurrection would be embellished with the telling and eventually dismissed as legend or fable. Therefore it was imperative that many witnesses attest to the truth of this event. Luke wrote that Jesus, “presented Himself alive after His suffering by many infallible proofs, being seen by them during forty days and speaking of the things pertaining to the kingdom of God” (Acts 1:3). Paul added to this a virtual list of witnesses to the resurrection of Jesus from the dead. “He was seen by Cephas, then by the twelve. After that He was seen by over five hundred brethren at once, …. After that He was seen by James, then by all the apostles. Then last of all He was seen by me also, as by one born out of due time” (1 Corinthians 15:5-8).

The reality of the resurrection was cause for rejoicing. Unimaginable sorrow turned to inexpressible joy. The depth of despair endured just hours before was replaced with cautious euphoria. Can it possibility be true? Jesus lives? Those who did not see Him doubted. Thomas wasn’t the only one that needed proof of His resurrection. But Jesus freely offered His hands and side for inspection by the unbelieving. The healing scars were enough testament for the validity of His vitality.

Don’t let the Easter story end on a cross of suffering. Continue the telling to include the dark days of death but also the light of life shining from the dark tomb of yesterday’s tragedy. Rejoice in the existence of the risen Savior and worship the living Lord!

It’s Easter Time – The Time of Suffering

Palm Sunday – A purpose for suffering, A plan for pain

“From that time Jesus began to show to His disciples that He must go to Jerusalem, and suffer many things from the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and be raised the third day” (Matthew 16:21).

The problem with being God is the knowledge of the future. Jesus prepared the disciples for the future by letting them know that suffering would soon come to Him in Jerusalem. He revealed that He would also be killed at the hands of the accusers. In that revelation of knowledge it is understood that He knew His own destiny. The grand plan of redemption was established from before the foundation of the world. Jesus was God in the flesh and the full implication of His sacrifice was well known.

Knowing the suffering and death that Jesus would suffer increased His pain in dreaded anticipation. Knowing His destiny did not lessen the agony but rather increased the suffering. No doubt the travail He endured in the Garden before His arrest and trial was more severe due to His knowledge of what was to come. His sweat became as great drops of blood as He envisioned the agony of the passion.

Divine destiny drove Jesus to accomplish the mission of propitiation. He resisted the temptation to circumvent the crucifixion. When Peter rebuked Him saying, “Far be it from You, Lord; this shall not happen to You!” Jesus quickly responded resisting the temptation, “Get behind Me, Satan! You are an offense to Me, for you are not mindful of the things of God, but the things of men” (Matthew 16:22-23). Despite the knowledge of what was to come He was resolved to complete his mission.

The writer of Hebrews said it was “for the joy that was set before Him [He] endured the cross, despising the shame” (12:2). It was not with sadistic glee that He embraced the cross, but His joy was in knowing the benefit that His sacrifice would accomplish. He “endured the cross.” That was the necessary instrument of suffering that brought about redemption from sin and the promise of life. The joy was in the atonement, sinners set free from the bondage of sin. Those who were dead in their trespasses were brought back to life!

When you see the end result the process is palpable. If you want good teeth you must go to the dentist once in a while. If you want to remain healthy sometimes you may require surgery or painful treatment. But if your chances of a better life are increased you may be willing to suffer for the present. Jesus saw the suffering, admitted the violent treatment, conceded that He would die, but added that he would rise again on the third day. The story did not end with the cross or conclude with His passion. There was a simple statement of victory; He will be raised again on the third day!

Endure the cross; abide the suffering, a better day is ahead. The promise is worth the pain!