“They put Him to death … God raised Him to life … and allowed Him to be clearly seen … by us, who ate and drank with Him after He rose from the dead.” Acts 10:39–41
Like others, Peter had gone to the tomb and found it empty. Then, sometimes with others and sometimes alone, he saw and spoke, ate and drank with Jesus. This practical, hard-nosed disciple could hardly contain his surprise, but he had no doubts, and he told the story to everyone he met: Jesus raised from the dead! Only God could have done this after the cruel death that seemed to end everything.
The women at the tomb early Easter morning were the first to know, perhaps because, standing their ground beneath the cross, they were the last to give up hope. Then, appearing to the disciples who had deserted Him, Jesus proclaimed God’s forgiveness and the promise of eternal life, until even the most doubtful, like Thomas, were convinced. No, He was not a ghost, or their imagination, or wishful thinking. They could touch His wounds with their hands. They, burning with unquenchable faith, told others, and maintained their insistence even in the face of violent death.
Generations of believers have also met the resurrected Jesus because of these words and witnesses. As St. Augustine said, “He disappeared from before our eyes, that we might find Him in our hearts.” We who meet Him by faith can say with them: “Alleluia! Christ is risen! The Lord is risen indeed! Alleluia!”
Fr. Winston W. Welty, St. Andrew’s Anglican Church
What a joy it is to once again announce the Easter Message -- Christ is Risen! May the reality of this message reach every house, every family, every heart, especially where suffering is greatest.
Like the women who found the empty tomb (cf. Lk 24:4), we may well ask what it means that Jesus is Risen? It means that the love of God is stronger than evil, stronger even than death itself; it means that the love of God can transform our lives and let those desert places in our hearts bloom.
Christ died and rose once for all, and for everyone, but the power of the resurrection must be accomplished in every age. How many deserts does humanity need to cross? Especially the interior deserts, where there is no love for God or neighbor, or when we fail to realize that we are guardians of all creation. God’s mercy can bring life to the driest desert, and restore life to dry bones (cf. Ez 37:1-14).
May our hearts this Easter once again be filled with the grace of Christ’s resurrection so that, in the power of God’s love we may become agents of God’s mercy, channels through which justice and peace flourish.
“Give thanks to the Lord for God is good; for God’s steadfast love endures forever. Let Israel say: ‘God’s steadfast love endures for ever’” (Ps 117:1-2).
Fr. Basil G. Royston, D.Min, San Andrés Roman Catholic Church English Congregation
Everlasting life! This phrase conjures up childhood images of streets of gold, harps played by folks in white robes, and other folks lounging on clouds. Seems kind of interesting, but forever? It might get a little boring.
When I got a chance to read and think about Paul’s letter (1 Corinthians 15: 35) I got a whole new picture of what eternal life might mean. It’s not a visual picture, but a spiritual one. Paul writes about a spiritual body, a new kind of life and it’s about glory and imperishability.
Jesus has become a life-giving spirit, giving life to us.
We will get a new kind of body altogether, one that is plugged into the spiritual dynamo that is the Risen Christ. The limitations of flesh and blood will be completely gone; they are not suitable for the kingdom of God. We who inherit the kingdom along with the Risen Christ will not be limited by space and time. No wonder that Paul writes about his experience of being caught up into the “third heaven,” hearing things about which no mortal can repeat (2 Corinthians 12:4) as a preview of his resurrected life.
At the beginning of his first letter, Paul wrote about what God has prepared for those who love him—and it is nothing that can be seen with human eyes, heard with human ears, or even conceived of by human hearts (2:9). Wow! I don’t think that could ever be boring.
Fr. Danny Borkowski, Christ Church
God’s final plague to convince Pharaoh to set Israel free from slavery to Egypt was a death sentence imposed upon all first-born children in the land. Two conditions had to be met to rescue the life of a family’s first-born. First they had to be God’s chosen people and a spotless lamb had to be slain for each household and the blood of the lamb applied to the entrance to the home. All first-born were condemned. But, those chosen and obedient were given life for their offspring and thereby for their family. Those lambs only rescued the descendents of Jacob.
Over 2,000 years ago, as the descendents of Jacob were celebrating the Passover in remembrance of God’s gift of life to the first born of His chosen and obedient ones, Jesus, the sinless “Lamb of God” was crucified. He shed his blood as a perfect lamb to give life to all people who would be obedient and to trust His sacrifice and His word.
On the first day of the week, the third day after His crucifixion, Jesus was raised from the dead, proving His promises were true and his power was sufficient to overcome death, the grave, and sin. We celebrate our risen Lord every day and make particular show of it at Easter.
Brother Bob Hendrick, Lakeside Baptist Church
When asked to name a Christian holiday, most people would almost certainly first mention Christmas – and why not – who doesn’t love Christmas!
As much as we love to celebrate the birth of the Baby Jesus, Christmas pales in theological importance when compared to Easter. The coming of Jesus into the world would have been meaningless if he had not been able to accomplish the mission that started with the event in Bethlehem.
The most fundamental of all Christian beliefs is that Jesus Christ was and is the divine Son of God, and that he came to earth to save us from our sins, to allow us to be reunited in a loving relationship with God, our heavenly Father. That message is for all who will believe and accept this great gift. And that is what Holy Week and Easter are all about.
It has been said that when Jesus died on the cross, he wrote the check that paid the price for our sins; and when he arose on Easter morning it was proof that the check had cleared.
Because of Jesus’ death and resurrection, everything has changed and the world will never be the same for those who believe. “Christ is risen. He is risen indeed. Alleluia.”
Rev. Ross Arnold, Lakeside Presbyterian Church