Happy Easter! Blessed Easter!
This message has been stirring within me for a few days now. I’ve wanted to share it. To those who read it and are personally involved I hope it brings you comfort and joy filled hope and a deeper faith…it did for me.
I’ve been wondering what the experience of the death on the cross, of their friend and leader really did to the apostles and disciples? And moreover, what was the incredible emotional impact that the women at the empty tomb experienced? Or the emotions or thoughts of the apostles after hearing their story?
I sort of had this experience in reverse.
When I was ten years old, I was sitting at my desk in 4-B. At OLCS grade school, an announcement came over the loud speaker. It announced the death of a student, one of my classmates, my best friend Joey. At first, I remember feeling instant shock, then I exploded in tears. I remember the teacher telling me to go out into the hall, as the other students just stared at me. Then I heard Joey’s sister scream and cry!
It seemed like all hell had broken loose in my brain and body. Then, another announcement came over the loud speaker. The previous announcement was a mistake. It was not Joey who died. He was not dead. He was alive. But lingering within me was a reality that I had not grasped before. Joey was alive, but he was going to die. I had not realized that. I had never been told that. Never understood that. I don’t know what date that announcement miscue was made, but Joey did die soon thereafter. It was a very hollow experience and sad experience. It changed me.
On Good Friday, the first followers of Jesus had a similar experience. Although he told them he would suffer and die; He told them about the cross; He told them about betrayal and suffering and his rising from the dead; and like Aten year old boy, they didn’t get it. They didn’t realize or want their friend to die. Moreover, they had no clue what resurrection really was. But they knew what death was. They knew what death meant. Death had taken their friend. That announcement was made loud and clear from a Roman cross.
Through the shock of tears and sadness another message comes. He is not dead. He is alive. He is risen. The apostles heard that good news from the women who went to anoint a body that was not there. He is risen. He is alive. A new reality was about to dawn on them.
It wasn’t until I was in my early 30s that I could bring myself to visit Joey’s grave. His mother was kind enough to go with me. I had no idea what my reaction would be. As we stood there, Joey’s mom said to me, “I come here every once in a while, not as often as I use to. This place is just a touchstone. I come here because, as a mother, this is the last place I put him. But I know he is not here.” Yes. He was not here. While it was a special moment, it was not as emotional as I thought it might be.
A few days later was Easter Sunday. I came to the cemetery early in the morning. It was so early, I had to climb the fence. The gate was locked! I made my way to joe’s grave with a single rose. As I approached his marker, I could feel the tears coming. I was wondering where they were coming from. Placing the rose at his grave I burst into uncontrollable tears. I must have cried for a good two minutes. Suddenly those tears became laughter!! I was laughing! Not at my silliness, but at a new understanding—a true new reality — I knew that Joey was not here. He was not dead. He was alive. Alive in Christ.
Donna, Joey’s mom, was just like Mother Mary. I am sure she took disciples to the empty tomb to assure them that her San was not there. He is risen. He is alive…indeed He is the resurrection and the life.
For the first time in my life, I truly knew what the apostles and disciples must have felt like on that first Easter! Their tears had turned to joy. The emptiness of their hearts was replaced by the full revelation of an empty tomb. I knew and felt the reality that MY REDEEMER LIVES! I knew what my faith had always assured me. Christ has died. Christ is risen and Christ will come again.
What did they expect? He said he would die. He said he would be rejected. He said he would be abandoned… but he also said he would rise. He also said we would rise with him.
This is what we can expect.
Happy and blessed Easter!
