The holiday is history. “What did all mean?” I asked myself this morning. There were the bunnies, eggs, and flowers carried over from ancient pagan celebrations of Spring that were all it was for some.
Christians focused on the story of Jesus’ Resurrection, a pivotal truth of the faith. But does it all have any meaning for this Monday morning?
Luke tells us about two disciples walking outside of Jerusalem, on the road to Emmaus, who were wondering what it all meant, too. The crucifixion had drained them of all hope. Jesus Whose words had filled them with dreams and hope was arrested and crucified and all the dreams of the Kingdom Come died with him. They wondered aloud - How had that triumphal procession into Jerusalem, filled with shouts of “Hosanna,” turned into a hateful scene in Pilate’s courtyard where people screamed, “Crucify Him!”? And, then their talk turned to the report they had heard just that morning about His body being missing, the tomb empty. With a sigh, they walked on, resigned to disappointment!
Let’s pick up Luke’s story - "As they talked and discussed these things, Jesus himself suddenly came and began walking with them. But God kept them from recognizing him. He asked them, “What are you discussing so intently as you walk along?” They stopped short, sadness written across their faces. Then one of them, Cleopas, replied, “You must be the only person in Jerusalem who hasn’t heard about all the things that have happened there the last few days.”
“What things?” Jesus asked. “The things that happened to
Jesus, the man from Nazareth,” they said. “He was a prophet who did powerful
miracles, and he was a mighty teacher in the eyes of God and all the people.
But our leading priests and other religious leaders handed him over to be
condemned to death, and they crucified him. We had hoped he was the Messiah who
had come to rescue Israel. This all happened three days ago. “Then some women
from our group of his followers were at his tomb early this morning, and they
came back with an amazing report. They said his body was missing, and they had
seen angels who told them Jesus is alive! Some of our men ran out to see, and
sure enough, his body was gone, just as the women had said.” (Luke
24:15-24, NLT)
The report of the Resurrection was already circulating, but it was being
rejected. Everybody knew that dead meant dead. Yes, there was an
empty tomb and stories of angels who said He was alive, but… well, who could
believe such things?
Later, over dinner, the Man offered prayer and broke the loaf of bread, and they realized it was HIM! “Jesus quoted passages from the writings of Moses and all the prophets, explaining what all the Scriptures said about himself.” (24:27) He encouraged them, then as suddenly as He came, He was gone! That encounter changed their lives. They headed back to Jerusalem with yet another amazing story about the Risen Lord.
On this day after, are you tending to discount the
reports?
As echoes of “Christ, the Lord, is risen today…” grow quiet, are you leaving the wonder behind
for another year until Easter rolls around again?
I suggest a different choice today. In prayer and meditation, go back again to the Story. Think it through. The second look will provide greater clarity. Ask, ‘what does this mean for my life now?’
The Resurrection is the cornerstone of our hope. Because He lives, we will live also. That supernatural event turns a story about a kind Teacher into a compelling Gospel of a Living Lord. In that inspired chapter, 1 Corinthians 15, Paul presents the facts that support the reality of Jesus’ Resurrection and then he says – “And if our hope in Christ is only for this life, we are more to be pitied than anyone in the world. But in fact, Christ has been raised from the dead. He is the first of a great harvest of all who have died.” It means that humanity’s greatest fear no longer holds us in a tight grip! We are people of LIVING HOPE.
After a couple of months of waiting, we learn that those disciples found their way and took up Jesus’ challenge to take the Word to the world.
Fifty days after the Resurrection, at the Feast of Pentecost, God, the Holy Spirit, fell on the disciples and the rest is history! "Everyone was filled with awe, and many wonders and miraculous signs were done by the apostles. All the believers were together and had everything in common. Selling their possessions and goods, they gave to anyone as he had need. Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved." (Acts 2:43-47, NIV)
My friend do not just settle back to the routines of life.
Instead, let us live the faith, praying -
“Lord, pour out Your Spirit on us!
Fill us with the power to take your good news to our world.
May Your kingdom be born anew in us, we pray. Amen.”
Let’s live what we celebrated.
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