The story we reflect on each Easter Sunday is one that makes some people anxious, it stretches the limits of our rational thought, the idea that a person could die, and then not be dead? Who are you kidding!
So up front I want to say, I don’t understand this story, I don’t know how it happened. I don’t know in what form Jesus appears, we will think about resurrection appearances more in the coming weeks. Some people are certain of these things, and have explanations for them, but I don’t.
But given that we are here 2,000 years later; suggests to me that something did actually happen, something amazing and momentous. And just because I can’t explain how doesn’t mean it didn’t happen; because if that was the test I wouldn’t drive a car or use a computer.
There are lots of things in life I don’t understand, but that doesn’t make them any less real.
So what do we make of this story, of a man who died, a man who died a violent, brutal death at the hands of an oppressive regime, because he would not stop being who he was, the living God. He would not stop loving, healing, teaching; he would not stand by and be silent while religion was used to abuse people; he would not stand by and watch while people were excluded; he would not stand by and pretend it was OK while people lived bound by the law.
This man who died, whose death we remember each day, but especially on Good Friday, died because of the sins of the world, the violence, the oppression, the self-centredness, the hunger for power; the lack of compassion; and these things still exist in the world today, and we are all implicated in systemic oppression and violence.
What does it mean that this man did not stay in the grave?
We can read in the gospels and New Testament letters what it meant to some people in the first century, but what does it mean now, to us?
What does it mean for us to say Jesus rose from the dead?
What does it mean for us to believe Jesus lives?
What does it mean for us to live as people of the resurrection?
A quote: “Every single thing the Resurrected Lord does on earth now he does through our bodies.” In a way she’s saying, “We are the resurrection.” It’s not a one-time only event. The Resurrection as an unfolding thing with Christ continually being resurrected in those who follow him.”
I have a story for you: Picture book – The Last tree in the City
I wonder what we carry around with us, what is it that we value above all else.
What brings colour into our lives, and the lives of those around us.
We can sit at the foot of the cross and mourn what was, and at times we need to do that. But at some point we need to move beyond the pain and grief and look for signs of life.
We are the resurrection.
