John 20:1-18
This year the three Abrahamic religions are celebrating major holy days at the same time. Christians celebrate Easter; Jews are in the midst of Passover; Muslims are observing Ramadan. These three celebrations honor differing stories but they have a common theme: God in our midst brings life.
At Passover our Jewish neighbors tell the story of the Exodus when God set their ancestors free from slavery in Egypt and brought them to a new land where they could become God’s people in a new and intentional way. In Ramadan our Moslem neighbors fast and pray during daylight hours to commemorate Muhammad’s receiving the words of the Quran, their holy scripture. Both of these observances are life-giving. God gave the Jews a new life in a new place as a new people. God gave Moslems the Quran as a guide to a new way of living centered on God’s love and guidance.
We are familiar with Easter as the celebration of Jesus’ resurrection after he was killed by Rome. We read the story of how first the women among his followers and then the disciples themselves found his tomb empty, saw angels, heard that he had been raised to life, and then saw for themselves a resurrected Jesus. Most of this celebration focuses on the belief that if Jesus can overcome death, so can we. It’s a celebration of the persistence of life, even in the face of death. Because he lives, we will also live forever – beyond this life into the life of eternity. In our hemisphere is usually coincides with the celebration of spring when the world comes alive again after winter. (Although this year the weather is more appropriate for the celebration of Christmas with its snowy nights.)
There’s a second way that Easter means new life that I’d like us to think about today. This way focuses on Jesus’ vision for what life can be when we are fully connected to God and to each other. We talk often about Jesus’ vision that he shared in his years of traveling and teaching.
It was a nonviolent vision – not advocating for the revolution that people wanted but for meeting violence with peace. Turn the other cheek; love your enemy.
It was a vision which honored all people – men, women and children; leaders and peasants; workers and beggars, including those who were ill or disabled.
It was a vision of economic justice, calling on those who were wealthy to make the lives of poorer folk easier.
It was a vision of healing – body, mind and community.
It was a vision of a good life in which everyone ate, everyone was included, everyone worked together to see that all were cared for.
People came to Jesus in crowds. They wanted to see if he really was healing folks who had been blind, lame, or mentally ill. They wanted to hear him talk about a new way of living together. They wanted to hope that new life was possible.
When Jesus was executed, his disciples assumed that the movement Jesus started was over. He was dead. Rome had the last word. They were afraid that they’d be executed next and they hid. Only the women dared to go to the tomb and care for his body. But they didn’t find a body. Instead they found hope. The word was that Jesus had risen from the dead. If he is risen, maybe his vision can rise with him.
Notice that those who “see” Jesus on Easter and the days following don’t recognize him. He looks different. Sometimes they only know him from his voice. He speaks to them and then they see. Scripture tells us that getting to an understanding of Easter is a gradual process. It takes days, even months. Some people sign on right away and others need more evidence. Seven weeks from today we’re going to celebrate Pentecost, the day the disciples came out of hiding and started sharing Jesus’ message with the world. Easter and Pentecost bookend a process in which people assimilate what it means for Jesus to be alive. The message is “He is risen!” which also means “He is still with us!” It’s not over.
The prominent message of Easter is about eternal life. Over the centuries, it’s what Christianity has become – a promise of life beyond death. It gives us comfort in hard times and solace when we grieve. The second message of Easter may be just as important. Jesus is still among us and his vision for life is still powerful. These two messages tell us that Easter is about life – beyond this life AND in the midst of this life. God through Jesus is a part of both.
We come to this Easter celebration in a moment that’s difficult. The world is at war in a more visible way. Our nation is divided about who we should be and what we should do for one another. We are struggling to understand those divisions and their roots in racism and injustice. AND we come to this Easter celebration with hope – a hope that began on the first Easter and has continued for over 2000 years. Our hope is rooted in the conviction that no matter what the world does, Jesus is still with us and his vision is still alive among us. We can make peace. We can connect with one another, even across lines of difference. We can heal bodies and minds and spirits. We can feed and clothe and house those in need. We can welcome those who have been cast out. Life is stronger than death and we can create life among us.
As followers of Jesus we have the privilege of making his life visible now. We are his body in this time and place and he is with us, in us, through us. Every day we affirm that he is risen as we show he is present here and now. Today we celebrate Easter. Every day we ARE Easter. That is a sign of hope and a life of joy.