Easter

Acts 10:34a, 37-43
Col 3:1-4
Jn 20:1-9

“For they did not yet understand the Scripture that he had to rise from the dead.”
Who can blame them? The empty tomb was a mystery. They had no explanation. Had his body been stolen, had it been moved? Why was the tomb empty? They did finally understand why the tomb was empty. He had indeed risen, he was alive. He had conquered death. Then they began to learn even more of what the empty tomb means. A lesson that we can, that we need to learn. Life can be frustrating. We encounter difficulties of all manner, things that trap us, things that can place us in a tomb, a tomb that shuts us off from those around us, that tries to shut us off from God. These frustrations and difficulties can grow until we feel so trapped we begin to believe there is no way out. We lay in the tomb, trapped. In Christ we have our way out, if we will claim it. We do not need to lie in that tomb of our making. Christ sets us free. Christ rolls back the stone, creating for us an opening, a chance. Christ makes it possible for us to walk out and leave behind an empty tomb.

Deacon John
Easter Sunday
April 12, 2009