Matthew 28:5-7, The World Act II

Matthew 28:5-7 ”The angel said to the women, “Do not be afraid, for I know that you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified. He is not here; he has risen, just as he said. Come and see the place where he lay. Then go quickly and tell his disciples: ‘He has risen from the dead and is going ahead of you into Galilee. There you will see him.’ Now I have told you.’"

His cane clattered to the ground as the older man struggled to get onto his knees, a basin of water sloshing as it was moved and a towel draped over his arm. Kneeling, this old man gently began to wash the feet of his visitors. It was a touching sight.

We were all gathered together in a cabin in Eastern Texas to celebrate the Passover. One of the things that happened was that the leaders of the Passover celebration decided to hold a footwashing service as well, to emulate Christ’s service. This Easter there was quite the emphasis on Jesus being a servant. Jesus served everyone. He served His disciples, He served the ill and infirm, He even served the religious leaders (even if they didn’t like the form of the service). Christ served even until death, and then He served some more. He died, but did not remain dead; taking the death that was due to us for our sins, all our sins. He sacrificed everything that we may have everything. He did not hold onto his position as being the Son of God, He gave up a life of perfection in Heaven to come down and serve. He sacrificed Himself as the final blood price that our sins demanded.

He served and sacrificed, all the time wanting no more than that we love God with all our hearts, minds, soul, and strength. When He died, even the depths of Hell could not hold Him because He broke the mold. He had no sin of Himself that could hold Him there. He had no reason to die for stiff-necked and traitorous people like ourselves, and yet He did. Hell still had no way to detain Him. Christ descended and then He rose again, fulfilling nearly all the prophecies about Him. The only ones so far not fulfilled are the ones pertaining to His second coming, His triumphant return to gather the redeemed – the now adopted Children of God.

He is risen and He has gone ahead to prepare for us. The Bridegroom of the Church is preparing the House for His gentle Bride and soon He will be finished with the preparations. We often think that Easter is the end of the story, with the final days with the disciples being a sort of epilogue. However it is only the beginning of act two! With Christ’s resurrection, a new world was born, a world not built around sinful actions and their consequences, but rather built around a people who understood God’s full love for them. In a way, Christ’s earthly ministry and death was the courtship with the Church and His resurrection was the Engagement. Following that train of thought the events starting at Pentecost began the engagement party, which is still going strong!

This world, Act Two, is all due to Christ’s death and resurrection! Let us not forget that. That is what we celebrate this week. That is what we must remember to build our lives around. With the thought that Christ loved us so much that He gave us His life, His blood, and made us partakers of His inheritance, there is nothing we cannot do! How can we remain as we were with this? How can we stay the same? Once we learn of this, we must change and we cannot help but Love Him all the more.

Easter is this reminder for us, a reminder of Service, of Redemption, and of Love. Our Lord did all this for us, how can we refuse to return the favor?

Happy Easter! He has Risen! That has made all the difference in the world to us!