WEEK EIGHT
April 5 – April 12
Theme: Journey Toward Eternity

We have spent 40 days reflecting on our lives in relation to the ministry and work of Christ. In some sectors of the Christian church, Easter Sunday is the end of the journey. But in other Christian traditions the 40 days following Christ’s resurrection are referred to as Eastertide or Paschal Tide (the period between Easter and Ascension or between Easter and Pentecost). In stark contrast to Lent, Eastertide is a time of intense celebration and deep rejoicing. Christians around the world greet each other with the resounding phrase “Christ is risen!” The week following Easter is referred to as “Bright Week,” a week where we ponder the powerful stories of Christ’s post resurrection appearances, realizing that our journey with Jesus is a journey toward eternity that will never end.

On Sunday, March 1, 2015, while returning home after an evening service, Rev. Matthew Baker was tragically killed in a car accident. He left behind his wife and six young children. Several days later his widow shared this poignant resurrection story.  “Early yesterday morning, I was working at the computer in my husband’s office when I heard little feet running toward me. My four year old ran into the room and looked around and then looked at me happy and expectant: ‘Did Daddy rise from the dead?’ and I responded as I have several mornings since the accident, ‘No, not today but he will. It will seem to take a long time to us, but he will.’ Completely undaunted he smiles and saunters out. I suddenly realize that each morning he has been looking for the resurrection of his father. The story of Christ's resurrection is so real to him, he sees it as something that could happen any day and probably in the morning. I suppose we could smile at his immaturity but I wonder if that is not the better attitude to have. Maybe this is what Christ meant when he said that we must, ‘become like a little child.’”

Sunday, April 5
Easter Sunday
Scripture: Luke 24:4-8

While they were perplexed about this, behold, two men stood by them in dazzling apparel. And as they were frightened and bowed their faces to the ground, the men said to them, “Why do you seek the living among the dead? He is not here, but has risen. Remember how he told you, while he was still in Galilee, that the Son of Man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men and be crucified and on the third day rise.” And they remembered his words.

THE ANGELS SPEAK
With varying degrees of detail, each of the New Testament Gospels indicates that Jesus rose from the dead. They don’t all record the same aspects of the glorious event, but the details they do record nonetheless all fit together in describing the resurrection of our Lord.

One of the interesting details that Luke alone includes in his account is a bit more of the angelic message to the women who discover the empty tomb. Describing the angels as men in dazzling apparel (Luke 24:4; cf. Acts 1:9–11), Luke records that they give the first announcement about Jesus’ resurrection: “Why do you seek the living among the dead? He is not here, but has risen” (Luke 24:5–6; cf. Matt. 28:6; Mark 16:6). But only Luke records the angels’ explanation that this announcement should be no surprise: “Remember how he told you, while he was still in Galilee, that the Son of Man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men and be crucified and on the third day rise” (Luke 24:6–7). Several times in the Gospel of Luke we read that Jesus commented on His pending death and/or resurrection (Luke 9:22, 44; 18:31–33; cf. 5:35; 12:50; 13:32–33; 17:25). On that first Easter morning, the angels at the empty tomb instruct the women to remember Jesus’ predictive statements so as to recognize that He has kept His word and now is really alive. The remembrance that the death and resurrection of Jesus was all part of the plan should incite faith and rejoicing on the part of the women. Rather than being perplexed about the events of the crucifixion and the empty tomb (Luke 24:4; cf. 24:13–24), those who remember Jesus’ words can rejoice at His resurrection.

Interestingly, as if to emphasize his point, Luke adds a brief note about the women: “And they remembered his words” (Luke 24:8). The repetition of the word remember is, indeed, a reminder to us. The crucifixion was no surprise to Jesus, and His resurrection was likewise all part of the plan. We should remember Jesus’ words and rejoice in the new life His resurrection brings to us.

The music selection for today is Christ is Risen by Matt Maher and Mia Fieldes from Maher’s Alive Again album (2011). This song is not only a musical celebration of Jesus’ resurrection, it is also an invitation for us to let the resurrected Christ change our lives. The chorus in particular, after noting that Christ has trampled over death, continues with the summons for us to “come awake,” to be changed by the risen Christ, to “come and rise up from the grave” with Him. So also the musical bridge invites us to remember the life-changing power of the resurrection: “O church, come stand in the light. Our God is not dead; He's alive! He's alive!” And this changes everything.

Much older than this song, the artwork accompanying our passage nevertheless represents a musical rejoicing over the resurrected Christ. The work is an anonymous manuscript illustration found in a 13^th-century missal (or worship handbook) in the John Rylands Library of Manchester, England. Some might object that the medieval artist has updated the first-century event of Jesus’ resurrection with several 13^th-century features: for example, one angel is playing a violin-like bowed string instrument, and Jesus steps from a medieval burial vault instead of a rolling-stone tomb. But could it be that the artist’s updates are intentional invitations for the viewers of his day to remember Jesus’ resurrection and to bring its affects into their time?

Furthermore, even as the oversized and central Christ figure steps out of the burial vault and treads upon death (i.e., upon one of the fallen soldiers who “were as dead men” and needed to come awake to new life; cf. Matt. 28:4), His cross-topped staff actually extends out of the illustration’s frame. Likewise the celebrating angels are themselves coming out of the confines of its borders. With this technique, the illustrator may well have a challenge for us: Jesus’ words and the memory of His resurrection are not to be kept captive in the pages of a book or held hostage within the boundaries of works of art. His crucifixion and coming back to life were real events whereby He kept His word, and these very real, historic event still burst forth into our lives today. The resurrection of our Lord—who remains alive—can make a difference in our lives even now in our time. Jesus said He would die and rise again; remember His words as they were fulfilled in His resurrection. Celebrate new life today. Enjoy a new life in Him now.

PRAYER
Our Lord Jesus, risen Savior, help us to heed the invitation of the angels announcing Your resurrection and so to remember Your words. Your death for our sins was no surprise to You, and Your resurrection back to life was also part of the plan. We need now Your help in remembering that this new life can be ours in this day. May our lives demonstrate a lifestyle of constant remembrance, of being changed by You forever.
Amen.
Douglas S. Huffman, Associate Dean of BBST, Talbot School of Theology