Easter Afterthoughts

Easter is over.  I know that’s not earth-shattering news. You knew that. But…

Did it mean anything to you?

A new dress, suit or clothes?  Time with the family?  Attending church?  Hiding eggs for your kids or grands?

Did Easter make any difference in your life? 

Easter should be the pinnacle of our faith.  It should be a time of reflecting on the incredible sacrifice of God’s own Son come to earth to pay a debt that we couldn’t.  But even more than that, it’s the realization that God had a plan, from the beginning of time, for us to be reconciled and have a way back to Him.  The empty tomb reminds us that He is and always will be victorious over Satan, sin and death…and one day we will live with Him forever in heaven.

This year, a couple of things impacted this Easter season for me.  I pray I never forget what I’ve learned.

#1 – I have realized afresh and anew all my Savior suffered and endured on my behalf. 

It’s no coincidence that the book we’ve been studying this year in Bible Study Fellowship has been in John, and we’re still studying the crucifixion. I found it intriguing that the subject of Pilate’s indecisiveness was brought up.  Pilate being wishy washy made things worse for Jesus.  I had never thought about it like this before.  There was some part of Pilate that recognized Jesus was innocent and shouldn’t be crucified.  He knew Jesus was extremely different from the typical criminals that normally appeared before him. God gave Pilate a choice.  I don’t believe he was doomed to have to make this heinous decision.  There were so many times that he could’ve inquired more of Jesus – and really searched for the truth.  He even asked Jesus, “What is truth?”  Instead of Pilate going with his “gut” and standing up to the people for this man he believed to be innocent, he was a coward and bowed to the will of the people.  But he couldn’t bring himself to make the decision to crucify Jesus.  Instead, he had Jesus flogged in an attempt to appease the crowd and hopefully get off the hook.  I read that this flogging (lashes with a thick leather strap embedded with pieces of bones and metal) was so severe — the pieces ripped into a man’s flesh and tore it to shreds.  Usually, one of three things occurred to the victim:  he passed out as the pain was so intense; he went insane from the excruciating pain; or he died.  None of these things happened to Jesus.

Even during this gruesome flogging, I know God was in control.  It was just another layer of wrath that Jesus incurred because of our sin.  Let that sink in the next time you want to give into your flesh, say the wrong thing or be disobedient to what you know is right.

Pilate, like the rest of us, had a choice.  Truth incarnate, the Son of God, was standing right in front of him.  The Way, The Truth and the Life would’ve shared with him.   He could’ve asked.  He could’ve inquired many things of Jesus.  There was opportunity.  His wife even warned him to have nothing to do with this “innocent man”.  But he chose his pride and his position over REAL truth and REAL purpose in life. His idea of what was important in life was so off the mark.  How many of us do the same?

Four times Pilate tried to release Jesus, but the crowd would have none of it.  It was only when the Jews threatened his position within the Roman government and brought up Caesar that Pilate totally caved.

When I ponder what Jesus endured on my behalf, I struggle to wrap my brain around the level of submission.  Even when 6”-8” nails were being driven into his wrists or his feet, Jesus could’ve jumped up at any point.  He didn’t need to call angels to rescue him off the cross.  He was still omnipotent; He had the power to save himself.  But He loved you and me more than Himself; Jesus loved the Father so much that He was willing to submit no matter the cost.  That’s what makes Him truly holy and the Son of God.  Even during unimaginable suffering and pain, His true character did not waiver.  Oh, what a Savior!

Even more than the physical pain that he endured on the cross, I think the deeper and more excruciating pain for Jesus was the fact that His Father God had to turn away and separate Himself from His Precious Son.  They had always been One.  Jesus was truly alone.  Oh, the heartache of that spiritual separation!  I can’t imagine.  No wonder we hear Jesus cry from the cross, “Father, why have you forsaken me?”

#2 – Several weeks before Easter arrived, I experienced a major injustice in my personal life.  It’s too soon to explain the details.  It’s way too raw.  Suffice it to say, that in my 40+ years in education, I have never experienced anything like I did in this situation.  I hate not to explain the details.  I’m not trying to be super secretive or clandestine.  I will just say this statement.  In no way did my personal injustice hold a candle to what Jesus went through.  But my experience gave me a taste of how Jesus must have felt.  I realize that Jesus was aware of his purpose from a young age.  But he was still a man with emotions, thoughts and feelings.  The fact that he was HOLY, pure, perfect in every way and totally innocent of any wrongdoing can’t be stated enough.  He didn’t deserve having one unkind thing said about him, much less the treatment he incurred.  While he was on the earth, He only did good and brought love, peace, truth and healing.  In return, he was treated like a criminal.  It was such an injustice!  And yet, I know, it was all part of God’s Master Plan.

#3 – I taught the true Easter story to our Good News Club group last week.  Researching and teaching the story using Resurrection Eggs, as well as some vivid pictures helped me realize so many facets of what took place.  But at the end, when I gave an invitation, four children came forward to accept Jesus as Savior.  I was overjoyed as I had prayed for a “drawing of His Spirit” specifically.  Two girls came forward to speak to me. 

Counseling children is something I take very seriously.  I didn’t want to put words in either of these girls’ mouths.  After several minutes of talking, one young lady assured me that she had asked Jesus to be her Savior.  She was confident of that.  But when I inquired further as to why she came, she struggled to articulate it.  Finally, the words came.  Amber (that’s not her real name, but for the sake of this story, I will substitute) said, “I just really wanted to thank Him.  I mean every time I do something wrong, He always forgives me.”  I’ve been working with and counseling children since I helped my mom (as a first grade Sunday School teacher) when I was in high school.  I’ve never heard a child say anything like this!!  What a precious and tender heart!  We prayed; I let Amber talk and pray; I prayed and we both thanked Jesus for how He loves and forgives.  Even on the cross, while he was suffocating, hurting and in agony, Jesus prayed, “Father, forgive them for they don’t know what they are doing.”  She remembered that detail from the Bible lesson I told just a few minutes prior.  But more importantly, she KNEW from experience how often and how much He had forgiven her.  What a praise!!  What a blessing!!!  What a thankful heart!!  Her gratitude so impacted me!!

Am I that thankful?  You?

#4 – Have you stopped to consider that two “secret” disciples are the ones who cared for Jesus’ dead and sacred body?  While 10 of the men who had been called, chosen and walked with Jesus – and witnessed him feed 5,000 from a small lunch, heal the blind, change hearts like Zaccheus and Matthew, and make the lame to walk, were cowering in fear and hiding out, two of the Sanhedrin that had secretly believed in Jesus found their courage.  Joseph of Arimathea came forward to ask Pilate for Jesus’ dead body and offer his tomb.  By doing so, he risked his reputation and life.  During this time, it was customary that tombs were shared. Back in that day most people shared a tomb due to finances.  But Joseph offering his pristine tomb fulfilled scripture.  But the King of Kings, who suffered excruciatingly for you and me, was buried in a clean and unused tomb.  It’s so fitting!  Only the best for such a King! 

Is Easter an event you celebrate on that one Sunday of the year – or is it a continual celebration of the fact that Jesus’ Spirit can live inside of you?  It’s worth noting and emphasizing that because of Jesus, we are no longer dead in our sins.  He actually became sin for us; He defeated death; and God raised Him back to life after being dead. Just as He came back to life, He makes us ALIVE!!!  He makes us ALIVE when He acknowledge that we’re a sinner and ask Him to be our Savior. He is a gentleman and waits for us to invite Him in.   His Holy Spirit (the Spirit of Jesus) literally takes up residence.  That’s truly an amazing fact.

The older I get, the more I want to live my life to stand out – and care more about what God thinks of me than the world around me.  And to let others see Jesus in me – to let HIS LIGHT shine through me as His vessel. 

I want the miracle of Easter to be ever present in my thoughts.  To daily be thankful for a LIVING Savior who loves me in spite of my sin…and was willing to do the unthinkable in dying in my place.  That kind of love compels me to live for Him…and to rely on Him. 

When I’m tempted to do life on my own terms, I pray I remember the sacrifice God and Jesus both made.  God gave up THE most precious part of Himself for you/me.  Jesus ultimately displayed His character and self-sacrificing nature on the cross and at every turn.  And showed us in an unforgettable way what it means to truly love God, trust and submit to our Heavenly Father and His will.  He “didn’t cling to his rights as God” as it so poignantly reminds us in Philippians 2.

At this time of year, even nature seems to be shouting and doing everything to get our attention for us to remember that Easter is about New Birth and New Life that can only be found in Jesus!  Trees are blooming; tiny buds are bursting forth in vivid and vibrant hues; and flowers are on glorious display.  This morning, as I went for a walk, all was quiet except for the birds chirping.  I wondered if they were singing praises to God and thanking Jesus!!  It sure sounded like it.

Whatever the case, I hope that Easter is still being celebrated in your heart and life.  It shouldn’t be a one-time, one-day event. 

If you’re still struggling, read Matthew 26:11-28 and John 18-20.  Both recount the time leading up to Jesus’ arrest, the crucifixion, the burial and the glorious resurrection.