In
the past week, events seemed to have crushed their dreams and hopes. He was killed,
his disciples were scared and disorganized. Not one of his disciples had foreseen
or prepared for this. Maybe a few of them would continue to live his dream, but
for now it seemed that the best thing that they could hope for was to give his
body a decent burial, without being threatened or molested by either the authorities
or a jeering rabble.
What
they found at the cemetery was neither what they had hoped for nor what the world
ever expected. They were flabbergasted with the message that Jesus had risen.
Within a few short days, they along with many of the other disciples knew that
Jesus was alive, and that his vision of a new humanity was not killed by the torture,
suffering, or abandonment of the world. The resurrection turned out to be even
more than the sum of all the wonderful visions Jesus had put before them.
The
Gospels and all the early witnesses were very wise not to try to explain what
had happened. Yes, they knew for certain that Jesus was raised from the dead,
but they had no idea how. Easter is about the discovery of the living Jesus, not
a description of some past extraordinary phenomenon. That is why an empty tomb,
or any other artifacts of death never speak to the astounding joy of resurrection.
The message from the cemetery is “Jesus is not here, don't seek the living
among the dead, but go out into the world and as you witness to the good news
as Jesus taught you, and gather to break bread together as Jesus commanded you,
you will discover him!”
A
little more than four decades ago, a disciple of Jesus put forth a vision, drawing
on the same words we read this morning in the book of the prophet Isaiah. It was
a vision of a contemporary society where both the young and old would be cared
for, and the rich and poor, and those who had caused injury and insult and those
who had been hurt and degraded, would be reconciled and healed, and all would
live in decent houses, be able to find meaningful work and be paid fair wages.
Children would go to good schools, and families would play and worship together
in safety and without fear. Because of the tensions of the time it seemed to some
as incredible as a lion eating with a lamb. He had more years of bitter struggle.
Yet because he knew that Christ overcame death and was alive, he wasn't afraid
or discouraged if he didn't experience the vision's full fruition in his earthly
lifetime. He knew that even his death would not have the last word.
Easter
hymns are neither dirges to the dead or lullabies to ease us into a peaceful garden
walled away from the disturbing noises of the world. Easter hymns don't say that
Jesus was raised, long ago, in some far off land. Easter hymns proclaim, Jesus
is risen, and that the power of the resurrection is alive and working among us
right now. Easter challenges, shakes up, and disturbs the complacency of the world.
Easter never, never gives to the world what it expects or offers to us what we
deserve. Easter gives us so much more than we deserve. Easter is about new life
and a vision for humanity that will not be buried with cynicism, deception, or
worldly misuse of power. Easter sends us out into the world to discover the love
of God let loose from our limited and petty expectations. Easter continually smashes
apart the chains of the world’s bondage.
May
you all have an indescribable Easter. May you all have an Easter of stupendous
discovery. May you be flabbergasted by the power of the resurrection and be completely
surprised! Alleluia, Jesus is risen among us!
