Beech Tree News Network

Where do you start when trying to compose words about the resurrection of Jesus Christ? It can't and shouldn't be easy.  So, let's go back to another John - one much better with words than I've ever been.

The Gospel of John 20:1-9

On the first day of the week, Mary of Magdala came to the tomb early in the morning, while it was still dark, and saw the stone removed from the tomb.  So she ran and went to Simon Peter and to the other disciple whom Jesus loved, and told them, “They have taken the Lord from the tomb, and we don’t know where they put him.”

So Peter and the other disciple went out and came to the tomb.  They both ran, but the other disciple ran faster than Peter and arrived at the tomb first; he bent down and saw the burial cloths there, but did not go in.

When Simon Peter arrived after him, he went into the tomb and saw the burial cloths there, and the cloth that had covered his head, not with the burial cloths but rolled up in a separate place.

Then the other disciple also went in, the one who had arrived at the tomb first, and he saw and believed.  For they did not yet understand the Scripture that he had to rise from the dead.

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As commonly acknowledged, the betrayal, death by crucifixion, burial, and resurrection of Jesus mark the highpoint in the life of Christian faith.  The Triduum, or three days, in which this drama unfolds is the central tenet of Christianity, the core of the faith for those who believe Jesus is the Son of God who came to redeem the world.  Although Christmas gets the press clippings, it is the Easter Celebration of resurrection that is the real deal.  Some folks lament this fact and it sometimes causes them to speak critically of Christmas.  Now, I'll be the first to concede that the Christmas season, designed to commemorate the birth of the Savior, has been hijacked to a degree by the forces of secularism.  In fact, a more apt description might be that Christians have allowed Christmas to be kidnapped.  That's a debate for another day.  

Why do many emphasize Christmas while Easter maintains a lower profile among some?  Obviously the reasons would likely be numerous but one I have come to believe is in how we can relate to and understand each event.  Most of us, whether we've had children or not, can clearly identify with the birth of a child and all that entails.  On the other hand,  the bodily resurrection of someone who was dead is something that can't be easily comprehended regardless of how many episodes of The Walking Dead that you've watched.  The birth we get; the resurrection we don't … at least not easily.  The difference?  Faith to believe in what we have not seen.  Faith isn't easy. 

Personally, this season of Lent leading up to Easter has been the most intense for me.  Though a person of faith for most of my life, the resurrection has always been an abstract concept for me.  Of course, I professed belief in the risen Jesus and accepted the resurrection as fact but never really internalized it, made it real, or allowed it to come alive in my life in a way that would move it beyond the abstract and make it concrete.  Why has this been the case in my life?  I suspect that it is because I have spent more time running from the resurrected Christ than toward Him.  Unlike Mary, Peter and the other disciples who ran toward the empty tomb of Christ, I have often gone in the other direction, or at the very least, kept my distance.  I am tired of running.  

Many things keep us from God and sin clearly separates us from the cross of Christ.  As mortals groping for understanding, we are shaken at times by wavering faith because of what we can't explain, perplexed by fear of what God will demand of us or by what others may think.  Critics and cynics we are, so easily mislead by spiritual powers of darkness that are equally real, as well as our own sinful nature.  Yes, we are our own worst enemies at times but in the crucifixion and resurrection of Jesus is our hope for the future and our assurance of ultimate victory.  The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world cleared the way for our salvation with His death on the cross and resurrection.  Will we embrace this life anew through Christ and run toward the empty tomb of Jesus this Easter?  Or, are we running in the other direction?  That is a question that we will answer with our life, a question that we are answering each day.

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John Embry is the co-founder and vice-president of Beech Tree News & WLBQ 1570 AM.  He teaches 8th grade American History at Butler County Middle School and is the head softball coach at BCHS and BCMS.  John is married to Beth and they have one daughter, five-year-old Isabella Faye; and one son, Will Lincoln (almost five months).  They live in Aberdeen - site of the original "beech tree." He can be reached at [email protected].