According to the scriptures, something unimaginable, something unprecedented, something historically unique happened nearly 2000 years ago when Jesus, who was dead and buried, was raised to new life by God. To say it so clearly is to feel how inconceivable it is—not because such things are beyond God (in fact, such a thing could only be God's doing), but because we just don't experience the dead coming back to life. Of course, the earliest Christians knew this as well as we do. And yet, they proclaimed it as true: "He is not here"; "The tomb is empty"; "Jesus is alive, and I have seen him." These were their words. And this led them to proclaim and work for a world that was shaped by the love, mercy, justice, and peace of God. Their first words were not, "Jesus is in heaven, and we will be too, one day." Instead, they said very clearly to all who would listen: "repent and be forgiven"—really religious things in our minds, but which in reality simply mean: get back on track, turn to God; you've got infinite second chances to live and love as God has shown us in Jesus Christ—together, we can make it on earth as it is in heaven.
Easter is the day we proclaim clearly that with God there is enough faith, hope, love and courage to dream God's dream for this world. To see the world through our tears (like Mary and the women at the tomb), and know that through the power of God in Christ, we can and will, with God, create a new world—for ourselves, and for all, where sorrow is held by joy and death is turned to life.
I look forward to being with you this Holy Week and rejoicing together on Easter Sunday.
See you there,
Nick
