Taking Easter Personally

Scripture: "But the angel said to women, 'Do not be afraid; I know that you are looking for Jesus who was crucified. He is not here; for he has been raised ..." Matthew 28:5

From the beginning, the world tried to corner Him. To trap Him. To destroy Him.

When He was still an infant, Herod sent spies looking for Him to murder Him. When that didn't work, the tyrant tried to co-opt the three wise men in their search for Him. When that failed, too, Herod slaughtered all of the children in and around Bethlehem who were two years old and younger.

Not long after He entered his ministry, the religious and political authorities went after Him. They tried to trap Him with tricky questions about doctrine. They tried to corner Him with words of scripture. They tried to provoke Him into denying the power of Rome.

The truth He spoke inspired his followers. But it also made people angry. So sometimes hostile crowds tried to corner Him, to trap Him, to confront Him. But, somehow, He always slipped away.

And then a ridiculous cornering: a betrayal in the night, taking Him as though He had been hiding from the world. We can almost imagine a wry smile on Jesus's face when He points out to them that it is not as though they have trapped Him. He was just there--standing, waiting, knowing.

Then a terrible time of reckoning. Mocked. Tortured. Crucified. Killed. And everyone thought: well, there is no escaping this time. It seemed finally finished, even to some of the disciples.

But when that stone was rolled away, an unthinkable and unimaginable Truth was made known. Even in death He was not cornered, trapped, destroyed. Even death itself failed to capture Him.

Easter brings with it many lessons. I would never presume to tell you how you should experience it. That is something to be worked out in a quiet conversation between you and God.

But I will offer this, for what it is worth. It may be that for you the most important lesson of Easter is that, if you will have faith, then you are never cornered, never trapped, never destroyed.

Perhaps this is hard for you to believe. Maybe some part of your life has you feeling as if there is no exit. An illness. Economic struggles. Bad choices. An abusive relationship. A deep sadness from loss. Loneliness. Depression.

But when the sun came up today, Easter morning had this to say to you:

You are not cornered.

You are not trapped.

You are not destroyed.

The most powerful force in the universe knows your name, knows where you are, knows what you need, and knows your way forward.

Open yourself to it. Listen for it. Experience it. Embrace it. It is the Truth that He promised would set you free.

Good morning, you blessed Easter people.

He is risen.

He is risen, indeed.

And so, by the power and grace of God,

are you.

Amen.