In a few days, we’ll change the clocks, tune up the lawn mower, and start the watch for a sign of Spring: a crocus by the door, a robin in the yard, a bloom of forsythia, or the appearance of Easter on the calendar.

The first Easter wasn’t found on a calendar. It was found by women who rose before the dawn to anoint the body of the dead Jesus. They were on their way to finish the work the Sabbath had interrupted. They worried over finding someone to roll the stone away from his tomb and discovered that a kind soul done that already. But when they went into the tomb, they didn’t find the body of Jesus, and as they were wondering what had happened, an angel appeared and said that if they were looking for Jesus, they should look among the living, because Jesus had been raised from the dead.

What do you make of a moment like that?

Mark says the women ran from the tomb afraid for their lives. Luke reports their news struck the apostles as nonsense. Matthew writes that the powers that nailed Jesus to the cross tried to cover themselves by putting out a story that his body had been stolen. John says the women carried the news to Peter and John, who ran to the tomb, saw that it was empty, and believed.

Together, they tell this truth: Easter changes everything.

When death no longer gets the last word on us, mercy becomes the first word we are all free to offer. When death no longer holds power over life, we are free to live by forgiving. When violence is left a toothless tiger, we are free to live patient, kind, never jealous, never selfish, no grudge lives. When death takes what it cannot keep, we live even though we die. When evil only pays for a very short day, we are free to refuse its deal, and embrace the Christ, who loves us so much, that he gave his life, so we could have eternal life.

The risen Christ changes everything.

He can even change us for the better, if we’ll let Him.

Living in the life of the risen Christ begins as we survey the wondrous cross on which God’s own Son died, then journey to an empty tomb, so we can see, believe, and celebrate the day that God made heaven’s choices could be our choices on earth.

 

 

Your Pastor,

Skip Spangler