So, what do you think of Easter? I mean, what’s it to you?
We know the story, but honestly, it wasn’t until a pastor yelled it out to the congregation a few Easters ago: “It means you are never going to die!” that it started to sink in for me. It was said so simply and directly that it zapped my heart into paying attention. Oh yeah, Jesus’ whole bit about eternal life.
It means, that when you die, you aren’t really going to die. And for once, I honestly felt like jumping up and down, shouting something really happy, and high-fiving people.
I think that’s the right reaction to Easter.
But of course, that’s not what I do. I don’t know why. Maybe because I would look pretty loony for doing that in public. Maybe I’d feel loony even doing it home by myself.
If we believe as much to celebrate Easter, Jesus’ resurrection, what’s the point of our lukewarm reaction to it? If anything, it just makes it all worse.
I’m not chastising you. Honestly, this is written mostly to myself. I remember as a kid how I would feel about Peter’s denial of knowing Jesus. I just couldn’t understand it and I would be super judgmental of Peter. He’d been there for all the big stuff, the healings, the casting-out of demons, the teachings, the rebuking of religious people. The small stuff too like eating with Jesus or just walking side-by-side with Him. And then when Jesus was seized, Peter closely followed. Just peering around the corner, at a safe distance. A safe distance from embarrassment, of having to come clean. Because three times Peter was asked if he knew Jesus or was his follower and all three times he said no.
No. No ???????????? REALLY???????
I couldn’t understand. Why would he deny it?
Then it happened to me yesterday, in conversation with someone. Safely talking about Jesus, you know, from a distance. Loitering around him. Not really uncovering the whole truth of who He is and therefore who I am. And then a twinge of denial. A feeling kinda like a rooster crowing three times, maybe. Like I had denied who Jesus was based on how lukewarm and safe I spoke about Him. A more digestible Jesus. Easy on the eyes Jesus. A fit-into-my-post-modern-world Jesus.
BUT THIS IS THE “YOU’RE NEVER GOING TO DIE” JESUS. Why am I denying that in such a sneaky, subtle way?
We don’t have the right reaction to Jesus. I’ll feel the zeal, and then it gets deflated the moment I feel Jesus isn’t winning. The moment He gets seized. He’s not convincing right now, not to this person. Better if I don’t look like a crazy Christian right now. And I know I’ll have trouble with this because I’m still Andrea. I’m getting better with God’s help through the Holy Spirit, but one day, the whole reason why Jesus died, the whole point of it all, one day I’ll get it right. My reaction will be 100% right. I’ll know Him for who He truly is, fully, without sin in sight on my part, no lukewarm faith beholding Him, not from a safe distance. He’ll be perfect like He always has been and always will be, and I, for the first time ever, I will be too.
That’s what we all have to look forward to, thanks to Easter. I won’t yell it out in the streets, but maybe just in my kitchen to start. For once, really, really try to get my reaction closer to what it should be: uncontainable joy. Way too good for words, but still you have to get it all out somehow.
So get it out a little differently this Easter. Celebrate, you’re never going to die! That man would not perish, but have everlasting life. That’s Jesus, for you, for me. That’s the whole point.
Source: by Andrea Camber
Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of Genesis University.