[I have a tradition when preaching on Easter Sunday to insert "Christ Is Risen" as often as possible, to which the congregation respond, "Christ is risen indeed. Hallelujah!"]
Christ is risen! (He is risen indeed!) Shouts of alleluia ring out; flowers adorn our sanctuary; people are dressed in their finest attire; everyone has a smile on their face. We are here to celebrate the resurrection in grand style! Christ is risen! (he is risen indeed) And because Christ is risen (he is risen indeed), we too have the promise of eternal life. Because the tomb was empty on Easter, we know that no obstacle is too big for God. No matter how final death may be in our human reality, it is not the end of it all. Since Jesus rose from the grave, we can see the grave as a blessed gate to eternal life. Because Jesus overcame death, we also overcome death.
As fabulous as the promise of resurrection is though, Jesus’ resurrection isn’t just about pie in the sky when you die. That is a common theological misunderstanding of the resurrection story. Resurrection isn’t just about life after death; it is also about the promise of abundant life-now! It has to be! Otherwise, we might as well just convert just the moment before we die. If the resurrection was only about life after death, then instead of being here in worship, we should all be at home with actuarial tables, calculating the moment of our own death so that we could turn to Christ just in the nick of time. But Christianity is not just a religion of death - it also holds the promise of life.
The resurrection is incredible and it restructures reality, as it exists today! When Jesus was raised from the dead, he did more than just give us a reason to believe (e.g. life after death). He also gave us a reason to live! Because Jesus is alive beyond the cross, we see that God can use events that seem like the most wretched failure. Because Jesus is alive beyond the grave, we have the courage to escape from the hurtful places that entomb us. Because Jesus offers us life that lasts beyond death, we can face our own death without fear. Bill Gaither wrote a great hymn called "Because He Lives". The chorus goes like this: "Because he lives, I can face tomorrow. Because he lives, all fear is gone. Because I know he holds the future, and life is worth the living, just because he lives." Jesus’ resurrection gives us reason to live - today! Right now!
Easter should not just be a sweet holiday when we all put on our finest clothes and our widest smiles. Certainly we should be happy! Yes, the resurrection should bring us joy, and be a time of festive worship. But Easter should also be a wake up call to life for us. Easter is the awesome, transforming, life-changing power of God shaking each and every one of us awake to new life in Christ now - not just after death. The empty tomb should transform us. The resurrection should stir us to new hope and new courage.
This week, I had the opportunity to see the musical "Ragtime" at the Fisher Theatre. Although the theme of religion is but an undercurrent in the musical, one storyline made me think of the transforming power of new life and God restructuring priorities. "Ragtime" takes place at the turn of the 20th century. Mother must face daily life without Father as he was traveling on an expedition with Admiral Perry. Through a series of events, she finds herself telling police officers that she will provide for this black woman and her illegitimate newborn baby. (Remember the historical context…) She is somewhat surprised at her own words, astounded that the offer came from her mouth, but she is certain that she doesn’t want the woman and her child to be out on the street.
As she contemplates what kind of life she has brought upon herself, she sings a song to her absent husband, who always had all the answers for her. "What kind of woman would do what I’ve done - open the door to such chaos and pain! You would have gently closed the door, and gently turned the key, and gently told me not to look, for fear of what I’d see." Mother took a bold step of faith, not even knowing why she had agreed to care for this woman in this way. She could have made a rational decision to turn them away, but she gave of herself instead, agreeing to take care of this baby and its mother. Our Easter faith, remembering that Christ is risen (he is risen indeed) should make us bold enough to give of ourselves for the sake of another human being, as the Mother in this musical did.
Easter should invite us to break out of old patterns, to turn from abusive relationships or habits, to be freed from the guilt or burdens of the past, to entertain fresh thoughts, to love even when loving someone is difficult. Jesus’ resurrection should change us, make us new, and help us to really live life in the now! The Resurrection should embolden us to face our fears, to escape envy, to deal with denial. The Resurrection could even give us strength to be vulnerable and open ourselves up for the sake of another person!
My new favorite movie is "Chocolat", about a little French village in 1959 that is governed by "tranquilité". In this town, you knew what was expected of you and where your place was. If you happened to forget, someone would remind you. They trusted in the wisdom of ages past, including tradition, family, and morality. The Mayor, Comte de Reynaud, is the self-appointed guardian of the town. He writes the preacher’s sermons, guides the townspeople in their moral decisions, and overall, tries to maintain the status quo at all costs.
Into this town sweeps a vibrant, young woman named Vianne who is anything but traditional. She does nothing by the book. She does not go to church, has a daughter without a father present, and has the gall to open a chocolaterie in the middle of Lent. Her choclolaterie and her grace unexpectedly transform the town and its people. A wounded woman finds the courage to escape her abusive husband. A grandmother renews a broken relationship with her family members. Even the Comte de Reynaud, after an intense Easter Saturday conversion experience, is described as "strangely released". If a young woman selling chocolate can make that much of a difference (albeit in a fictional town)- mending family relationships, breaking free from abusive situations, opening their hearts for love - don’t you think the Resurrection should at least help us face some fears?
That is the true message of Easter. Not just that Christ is risen! (he is risen indeed) Not just that the tomb was empty! Not just that we go to heaven after we die! Not just that God triumphed over the devil! No, the truest, deepest message of Easter is that the same God who raised Jesus from the dead can empower us to face our demons, our fears, and our dark sides - at our crosses and our tombs. We are free to make mistakes, free to be whoever we are, free to be vulnerable, free to give of ourselves, free to escape the things that try to suffocate or abuse us.
What brokenness do you bring to church today? What tombs are closing in around you? What echoes of darkness are threatening to overtake you? What fears bind you? What rock is rolled in your way that seems unmovable? What habits or relationships hinder you from being the person you know that you really can be? The resurrection gives our life new meaning now - not just after our death. God has already released us from the bonds of death. The grave could not hold Jesus, and it will not hold us either. We can live boldly… because Christ is risen (he is risen indeed). We can live fearlessly… because Christ is risen (he is risen indeed). We can live graciously… because Christ is risen (he is risen indeed). Set us free, O Lord, so that we can serve our risen Savior with joy!
