The power of Easter is understanding that death does not have the last word. It is realizing that death is not the end, but only the bend upward to a new reality that is beyond perfect.
Mary Magdalene and Mary the mother of James, who went early in the morning to visit the place where Jesus was buried, discovered this by accident. It was enough for them that Jesus was a sensitive teacher and compassionate healer, and in their own compassion, went to where he was buried. That early morning visit changed what we know about Jesus forever.
All the accounts of the story indicate that the tomb was closed and sealed with a massive stone, and even guarded for security (Matt. 27:65). We can assume that the two women were intending to offer their spices and pray outside the tomb, but found the stone had been rolled away. Still, it was not clear why. There was confusion. Then the true reason is revealed: the end was a new beginning.
How often it is in life that we need this message of truth. We suffer something unexpected. That might be the loss of a loved one, a job, a missed opportunity, the loss of a valuable possession, the loss of dignity, the list goes on and on.
We are confused. We ask God why. If God is in charge, how could these things happen?
This painful moment of confusion is what the Resurrection story clarifies. There is a new beginning after every ending. Adjustments may be necessary but there is a new beginning after every ending.
Step one: The story of Jesus teaches us about a very important week before the end became a new beginning. It started with Palm Sunday where the essential message was that Jesus was making a courageous decision to give it all where it mattered most. Going into Jerusalem was now doing what was the last piece of what was left to do, and that was to go to the center of the problem. It was from Jerusalem that the rest of the region was influenced, and Jesus knew he needed to impact Jerusalem for his project to succeed. The underlying meaning of that decision and action was that Jesus wanted to be sure that whatever may come after, he did everything he possibly could for his dream and his mission. That he had exhausted all possibilities and options, even to the extent of going to the center of the problem and not turning away and giving up.
Do we do everything in our power to save the situation from the end? Can we move on knowing that we gave it our all and our very best?
Step two: The week continued into a period of confusion where the effort to give it all where it mattered most led to suffering and pain. Jesus had painful conversations to make his point clear. Jesus tried to change the environment around the temple to make it clean. The efforts were noble and important in the desire to do everything in his power to bring change, to make things right. But we know the story, he was insulted and verbally abused. In the middle of that week, he was falsely accused, and put through unimaginable pain on that Friday. Sacrifice, no better word can describe this. There was a willingness to make the ultimate sacrifice, and to let go.
Even if it means pain and suffering, you can let go because you know you have given your best, you have given it all.
As you let go, as painful as that may be, the story of the Resurrection takes on a power that transforms us. A meaning that empowers us to lift our heads again from despair to possibility; tears are wiped away because for those who believe in this story, we know deep down in our hearts that the end is the beginning of something new.
There is life after death, there is life after crisis, there is life after pain. This is the truth of the Resurrection. This is the power of Easter! (Pastor Carlton Palm)
