Death and Resurrection

Monday’s two biggest international headlines couldn’t have been more juxtaposed - the burning down of Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris and Tiger Woods winning the Masters green jacket. As I thought about it, I also pondered how a propos these stories are for Holy Week - destruction of something showing the way to God that people didn’t expect and which drew crowds, and what could be called redemption of a fallen man and even resurrection of his career after scandal and numerous surgeries.

The events of Holy Week are difficult to stomach, not only in their brutality but in the cowardly and callous behaviour of disciples and others scared of what was happening and what the result would be for them. We go from adoring crowds at Palm Sunday to voices shouting “Crucify Him!” and shoving Jesus under the bus. The perfect Lamb of God goes to slaughter to make up for our meanness, pride, self-centredness and rebellion. The Prince of Peace dies a death that is anything but peaceful. But then the tables are turned, the barriers to God are removed, and death itself is overcome.

It’s a lot to process for adults, let alone younger people. It’s good to read the story as the days of the week progress - the triumphant procession into Jerusalem, turning the money changers’ tables in the temple to reclaim the space for God, the Last Supper with the washing of the disciples’ feet and the words of the New Covenant, the Garden of Gethsemane and the arrest, the trial, the abuse and walk to Golgotha, the crucifixion, the caring for the body. All of these pieces tell us something important. The journey makes Easter that much more incredible and humbling, joyful and awe-inspiring.

If you have young people in your life, whether family or at your church, think about how you can share what Easter means to you with them. If you have a set of Resurrection eggs, pull them out to recount the major events of Holy Week. What is your favourite and least favourite part of the story? What part do you struggle to understand? How does Easter change how you look at life?

A friend wrote about the struggle to preach on Easter. Too often it becomes a recital of the facts of the story as we find them in scripture. It becomes almost an argument to prove it happened, this event from over 2,000 years ago, when instead resurrection should be evident because of us. The living Christ should be made known because of our living for Him out of belief and knowledge of His presence within us.

So the question becomes not just whether we know the story and understand it, although this is the basis for our belief, but how we are living out the story. How are we Jesus’ resurrected body, individually and corporately? How have our lives been changed and transformed because of Him? How has knowing Jesus and the hope of eternal life made us different and caused us to be more like Him?

Not everyone can remember history well. Not everyone can rhyme off the events of Holy Week in order. But we can all reflect and identify the difference being part of the body of Christ has made in our lives and how God has used us to transform and even resurrect others.

This year, don’t just remember a story, but recognize your place in God’s story. How have you been brought more fully to life because of God’s presence? How has the risen Christ been made known through you?

Happy Easter!