Those women weren’t looking for hope. They were practical, going to put spices on the body for burial, but what they found was the greatest hope ever.

Now when I say hope, I’m not talking about the “I hope it won’t rain” type of hope. No, this is a hope that’s based in promises kept. A hope founded in faith—the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.

Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.

~Hebrews 11:1 (ESV)

But how does Resurrection Sunday (or Easter) give us the greatest hope bringer?

Let’s back up three days. You see, those women I told you about in the beginning watched as the teacher they’d hoped was the chosen one was crucified—the Roman form of execution of a criminal. All their hopes came crashing to a halt as he died and was placed in a tomb.

Think about it. The best fantasy story ever—the chosen one wandering the country, feeding the multitudes, healing people, and even raising others from the dead. Then, everything comes skidding to a halt. Instead of the chosen one being placed on the throne, he’s treated as a criminal—and his followers are positive that they’re next!

They went into hiding, but the women still thought they’d give him a decent burial, and maybe even bury their dreams with him. Instead, they found the grave empty.

Mary came out of the tomb in tears, running into a man that she assumed was the gardener. Her plea pulls at the heart.

“Sir, if you tell me where you put him, I’ll take him.”

Can you hear the pain in that request? My loved one is dead, but now I don’t even have a grave to mourn at. Everything’s been taken from me. Let me find him, then I can mourn in peace.

The reply is just as poignant. I can hear it in the tone of a parent or a grandparent who kneels down to the level of a child, opening their arms and saying, “Oh, honey.” All Jesus does is call her by name.

Sorrow to Joy

What had been “sorrow upon sorrow” or “grief upon grief” as the Apostle Paul says, turned into a hope that would sustain believers through the centuries. A hope that turned even death backwards.

She would have known that when a willing victim who had committed no treachery was killed in a traitor’s stead, the Table would crack and Death itself would start working backward.

~The LIon, the Witch, and the Wardrobe by C. S. Lewis

You see, the great and loving King of All gave his people a choice to do what he knew was best for them, but his people said, “We know what’s best.” In that moment, there was a great divide between the King and his people. He allowed them to go their own way, to spurn him. The consequences were severe—death, separation. Not just separation for a moment or a year or two, but eternal separation.

The consequences of going our own way

Death. From that moment on, all of creation groaned under that weight. There was no going back. As his people age, they feel the pull in their bones, in every ache and pain. Every funeral is a reminder that death is coming, a reminder that his people no longer can live forever.

And yet, the King didn’t leave them to wander on their own. He made a plan—a plan that was in place from “before the foundation of the earth.” The King sent his Son to take the punishment of his people upon himself.

So, yes, The Chosen One walked among his people and then died in their place. Most fantasy stories end there, but the Greatest Story of All doesn’t. This is how we have the greatest hope bringer of all.

The Chosen One rose again. Physically, corporally. He said, “See my hands. Touch my wounds. It is I.” And by rising again, he did away with the sting of death. No more will death have the final word.

And so, on this Resurrection Sunday, may we proclaim hope. May we seek to know the greatest hope bringer, and may our faith be assured.

As an adult, Easter was the one holiday our family made a priority of with specific traditions. Not every year, but most years, there was a Good Friday service with the main celebration on Sunday. A trip up the mountain to Camp Fircroft started the day with sunrise service at 7 am followed by breakfast. Then down the mountain back to church for Sunday School and church. After church, a potluck at a friend’s house usually lasted until around 5 at night. It made for a long day, but a joyful day.

However, somewhere along the line, I realized I wasn’t celebrating Easter. We were celebrating Resurrection Sunday. I think it started with the phrase, “He is risen!” and the response, “He is risen, indeed!” I realized there were no bunnies or Easter baskets in our celebrations. Occasionally, there were eggs, but for the most part, we celebrated the resurrection of our Lord.

A different focus

Easter seems to bring to mind eggs, bunnies, and chicks with pastel colors, but Resurrection Sunday focuses on the empty tomb–the joy of the apostles and women who had had their hopes dashed on Good Friday, and the victory over death that Christ brings.

Resurrection Sunday may have some of the same elements of Easter, but it focuses instead on the events that happened all those years ago. The symbols of the cross and the empty tomb come into sharp contrast.

A different feel

Easter is a day in time to spend with family and friends. It’s the dressing up, the candy, and the fun but it’s done and over with in one day. Resurrection Sunday is one day, but the feeling and the meaning behind it last throughout the day, the week, the month, and into those tough times that come along. I may not always remember the feeling of Resurrection Sunday, but the significance of that day resonates throughout my year.

Eric, as Jesus, in The Passion Play. (the wording went with the ending slide show in He Made a Way Through a Manger)

The connection between Good Friday and Resurrection Sunday tend to be stronger. Our hopes on Good Friday are dashed. Jesus is in the grave. The One who was to have saved the world, the Healer, Teacher, and Friend is gone. We feel the pain Peter felt as he wept bitterly. We understand Mary and John’s anguish as they stand at the foot of the cross. But then, Sunday! We burst out in song as we realize that all hope is not lost. Jesus rose again. He’s not dead! This is the joy that floods us and sustains us back to work on Monday. We know He’s alive and there with us.

So which do you celebrate? Why? Are you more into the bunnies and candy or the meaning behind the week?

1. Peace with God

I’ve talked about the peace chart I used for my kids when they were younger. It was with the idea to help them get along and for me to keep my sanity. When they kept the peace, they experienced an absence of conflict (which pleased me to no end) and harmony. With Christ’s death and resurrection, we can experience this same lack of conflict and harmony with God. This takes on an even bigger meaning when we realize that on the scale of goodness, God is a 10 while the best person you can think of may come to a 9. This is important when we take into consideration that nothing below a 10 can get into heaven! Due to Christ’s sacrifice, we can have peace with God.

2. Grace to stand

Not only can we have peace with God, but we can find grace to stand. Here on the Oregon Coast, we have massive wind storms. We watch as trees topple and waves roll. However, there is one thing that stands the storms–the lighthouses. They can take the beating and still guide ships safely ashore. That’s the idea behind the word to stand. It’s an immovable object. Taking into consideration the idea of our good deeds being no better than filthy rags in comparison to Christ, we can’t stand on our own. We need His grace–undeserved merit.

image credit: disneyclips.com

I think of the movie The Fox and the Hound when I think of grace. There’s a scene at the end where the hunter has Tod in his sights and is ready to shoot, but Copper steps over Tod and fills the gun sights. This is what Christ’s resurrection has done for us. God the hunter sees our sins and knows the penalty is death, but Christ steps in front of us and says, “I paid that penalty.”

3. Hope of heaven

How often have you said, “I hope it doesn’t rain today”? If you live on the Oregon Coast that’s a pretty weak hope considering we’ve received almost 45 inches of rain so far this year! (Yep, it’s been a wet winter.) Our hope of heaven is much more secure than a hope it won’t rain. It’s more of the expectant anticipation of a child on Christmas morning who’s seen the pile of presents and knows there’s several under the tree for her or him. We can know we’re headed to heaven because Christ has paid our debt.

I love singing the song Because He Lives by Bill and Gloria Gather. I remember singing it growing up. When I was in high school, I’d sing for special music at church. One lady always enjoyed hearing me sing, but due to cancer she soon wasn’t able to come to church. One day during a phone call to see how she was, she asked me to sing for her. She requested this song. The words of the final verse always bring tears to my eyes now because of that memory. “And then one day, I’ll cross that river. I’ll fight life’s final war with pain, I’ll see the lights of glory and I’ll know He lives.”

4. Experience God’s love

Love fills our culture, but the love shown in movies, books, and TV is a conditional love based on what we can receive back. God’s love is unconditional; it is given even when we are His enemies! Because of this, once we experience His love, we can share it unconditionally as well. It’s like a full cup of coffee that’s filled to the brim and overflowing.

5. Joy of God

One final benefit of the resurrection is we can experience joy. This is one of those elusive ideas. Many people think of joy as happiness or walking around with a smile on our faces even though things go bad. That’s not what joy is. I can tell you there was no smile on my face when my friend told me of her daughter taking her own life, and yet the days that followed contained a peace, a contentment knowing God was in control, and an ability to sing. Last April, when I discovered I needed to publish my books independently, saw many ups and downs as well as a bucket load of tears. However, through it all, I could rest assured knowing God had it all under control. That is my definition of joy.

In today’s society, we have become an unchurched people; yet if someone is to attend church, it mostlikely will be on Christmas or Easter. I link the two holidays in my mind. My Christmas plays blend the story of Christ’s birth with his death and resurrection. I could not live without the firm assurance that I can face uncertain days because my Savior lives.

Kandi

A Song for the Ages