Happy Easter!
Christ is Risen! He is Risen Indeed! The light that came to earth in the form of a baby and was laid down in an animal feeding trough to sleep is shining brightly. O, it may not have seemed as if the light was still shining on that Thursday night, when Jesus celebrated the Passover with his disciples washing their feet, breaking bread and passing the cup, then going out into the garden where he was arrested. It must have seemed pretty dark as the disciples watched the soldiers marched Jesus off to his trial. It must have, because the disciples scattered and Peter denied even knowing Jesus! Then came Friday…as Jesus, the light of the world was put on trial. Standing in front of Pilate, sentenced to beating and death. Where is the light. Then after having a crown of thorns shoved on his head and being forced to carry his own instrument of death through the streets of Jerusalem, the light seemed to be dimming. As Jesus was nailed to the cross, as he forgave, as he cried out to God, as he asked for a drink, as he took his final breath, darkness seemed to have overcome the light.
As Nicodemus and Joseph of Arimathea, wrapped him in the customary spices and linen cloths, laid him in a new tomb and a stone was rolled in front of the opening, No one was going in, no one was coming out. It seemed darkness had won.
Yet darkness cannot overcome the light because God is light and God is much more powerful than darkness! On the first day of the week, when the women went to the tomb to finish anointing Jesus for burial, they saw that the opening of the tomb was open…the stone had been rolled away! Jesus body was gone! Did someone steal his body? The women told the disciples and the disciples came and found that indeed Jesus’ body was gone. Grief became overwhelming for Jesus’ disciples. They had not yet remembered what Jesus had told them, that he would die and three days latter would rise again. They did not remember that darkness cannot overcome the light!
The light was shining from the empty tomb. It was shining from the cross. It was shining as the curtain in the Temple separating the Holy of Holies was ripped in two. As the disciples huddled in a secluded space, the Light stood among them. Jesus is alive!
Yes indeed, Jesus is alive. The light of the world has pierced through the darkness, proving that darkness cannot prevail! The Gospel of John begins with light, “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things came into being through him, and without him not one thing came into being. What has come into being in him was life, and the life was the light of all people. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not overcome it. There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. He came as a witness to testify to the light, so that all might believe through him. He himself was not the light, but he came to testify to the light. The true light, which enlightens everyone, was coming into the world….And the Word became flesh and lived among us, and we have seen his glory, the glory as of a father’s only son, full of grace and truth” (John 1:1-9; 14).
Grace and truth are seen in the light. And that light, that grace, that truth lives in us. Jesus is alive and walks with us every moment of every day, shedding his light on us. Light any darkness that tries to extinguish it will be pierced! Light that helps us see the truth and offer grace. The truth that Jesus is who he said he is and we have experienced it and share it! We have been given the light of Christ…it shines in and thru and around us…so that we may be the bearers of the light to those who are lost in the dark!
Christ is Risen! He is Risen Indeed! May the Light of Christ guide you as you shine your light on truth and grace! Let your Light Shine so all will know that Jesus Christ is alive and with us always!
May your Easter be filled with light, grace, love, peace, and celebration for the Risen Lord!
Shalom,
Pastor Mona