From the Pastor’s Heart

When we read the Bible or think about some of the stories in it, there is a great temptation to think, “Oh, all that is very interesting, and it is wonderful to think that God could do this for people long ago; yet it does not have much to do with me.”

What we really must do if we want to be open to hear God’s word in Scriptures is to be prepared to locate ourselves in the stories. In so doing, we come to learn a little bit about who we are by identifying ourselves with these people.

As we approach Easter, we will once again hear the resurrection story. That first Easter many emotions were experienced and expressed:

Fear…. “So they (Mary Magdalene and the other Mary) departed quickly from the tomb with fear and great Joy.” (Matthew 28:8)
“And they went out and fled from the tomb; for trembling and astonishment had come upon them; and they said nothing to any one, for they were afraid.” (Mark 16:8). “…But when they went in they did not find the body. While they were perplexed about this, behold two men stood by them in dazzling apparel; and as they were frightened and bowed their faces to the ground, the men said to them, ‘why do you seek the living among the dead.’ (Mark 24: 3-4).

Doubt and Disbelief…. “Now the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain to which Jesus had directed them. And when they saw him they worshiped him; but some doubted.” (Matthew 28:16). “But when they heard that he was alive and had been seen by her (Mary Magdalene), they would not believe it. (Mark 16: 11). “After this he appeared in another form to two of them, as they were walking into the country. And they went back and told the rest, but they did not believe them.” (Mark16: 12-13). “Now it was Mary Magdalene and Joanna and Mary the mother of James and the other women with them who told this to the apostles; but these words seemed to them an idle tale, and they did not believe them.” (Luke 24:12). “Now Thomas, one of the twelve, called the twin was not with them when Jesus came. So the other disciples told him, ‘we have seen the Lord.’ But he said to them, ‘Unless I see in his hands the print of the nails, and place my finger in the mark of the nails, and place my hand in his side, I will not believe.” (John 20:24).

Grief and Sorrow…. “Now when he rose early on the first day of the week, he appeared first to Mary Magdalene, from whom he had cast out seven demons. She went and told those who had been with him, as they mourned and wept.” (Mark 16:9-10). “But Mary stood weeping outside the tomb, and as she wept she stooped to look into the tomb.” (John 20: 11).

With whom do you identify? Are you like one of the many who experienced fear that first Easter? Are you one of those who struggled with doubt? Or are you more like Mary, broken with sorrow and grief?

You might say we do not associate with any of those emotions. We are Easter people and we proclaim with great joy and gusto that Christ defeated death and is raised from the dead.

Yes, that is true. Perhaps a better way to approach these Easter Emotions is to ask: What does Easter mean to me?

One of my favorite hymns is the Gaither hymn: ‘Because He Lives’. The first verse states: “God sent his Son, they called him Jesus; he came to love, heal and forgive; he lived and died to buy my pardon, an empty grave is there to prove my Savior lives. 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.” We often lift our hearts and voices in celebration over these words, especially on Easter.

But, what about standing at the grave of a loved one? It is here where it is most important to ask: What does Easter mean to me? What Easter emotions are experienced at the grave: SORROW… FEAR… DOUBT…. BELIEF?

The other night I had a dream about my brother, Tommy. Tommy died ten years ago. I woke up with overwhelming grief and sorrow.

I discovered there are times when I am most like Mary as I find myself broken with grief. And it is then that I especially need to ask myself once again: What does Easter mean to me? I need to hear again how death is defeated. I need to hear again: “In my Father’s house there are many rooms.” I need to hear again the voice of the master: “Do not be afraid.”
I need to be like the Koontz family. The Koontz family lost three children to diphtheria in the same week in the early 20th century. Only a 3-year-old girl escaped the disease.

On the following Easter morning, the father, mother and child attended their church in rural Nebraska. Because Conrad, the father, was the Sunday School Superintendent, he led the session when all the classes met together. As he read the Easter message from the Bible, many were weeping, but the father and mother remained calm and serene.

When Sunday School was over, young Harry Lassiter, a local 15-year-old boy, was walking home with his father. “The Koontzes must really believe the Easter story,” said the boy.

His father answered, “All Christians do, Harry.”
“Not the way they do!” he said.

Do you believe in Easter?

Easter Blessings,

Pastor Russel