How many times in your life can you identify an event or sequence of events that drastically changed your trajectory within a period as short as three days?
The earliest that I remember was when I was seven years old and found out my parents were getting a divorce. Within 3 days time, my world was shaken and it still affects my thought processes and decisions almost 50 years later.
Others had more lead time, but were no less life-altering within a few days: getting married, becoming a father, becoming a pastor, becoming a former pastor, becoming a grandpa. They didn’t happen suddenly and without warning, but it didn’t take more than about 3 days to know that I was forever changed.
I could probably think of more examples from my own life, but I would rather invite you to think about examples from yours. The changes may have been good or bad, but you knew you’d never be the same.
This week, people all over the world are commemorating an event from 2000 years ago that changed everything: the resurrection of Jesus. Some will celebrate by doing what they do every Sunday and worshiping with their church family. Some will celebrate by making their annual Easter Sunday appearance at church.
Some will not acknowledge any particular faith or religious theme, but will enjoy a family get together or a community Easter egg hunt. It will be all about the candy and the colors.
Some will not celebrate at all and may even be offended by the concept. But the fact remains, that no other single event in history comes close to having the worldwide impact of the resurrection of Jesus Christ.
But His empty tomb on Sunday morning would not have been possible without His crucifixion and burial on Friday. It sounds simplistic to say, but you can’t have a resurrection without a death. And a death without a burial lends itself more to a resuscitation than a resurrection.
And it was His death, not His resurrection, that paid the necessary penalty for the sins of every person who has ever lived.
“For Christ also died for sins once for all, the just for the unjust, so that He might bring us to God, having been put to death in the flesh, but made alive in the spirit.” (1 Peter 3:18, emphasis added)
One more thing: His cross on Friday, that made His empty tomb possible on Sunday, would not have happened if He had not freely chosen it in a garden on Thursday evening. “And He withdrew from them about a stone’s throw, and He knelt down and began to pray, saying, ‘Father, if You are willing, remove this cup from Me; yet not My will, but Yours be done.’” (Luke 22:41-42)
His choice in that garden is one of the greatest affirmations that our lives matter to Him.
“Happy Easter” seems insufficient, but it is my prayer for you.
