The Christian church rightly puts great emphasis on
Calvary's cross. The willingness of the Son of God to
wrap himself in human flesh and die in our place is a
story that never loses its hold on humanity. In fact,
so captivating are the historical events of Good
Friday that the cross became the symbol for the
movement centered on Jesus of Nazareth.
His disciples could have chosen from a number of
religious symbols to mark them as followers of the
Way, from the fish and dove to the anchor and shield.
But the cross was the choice that forever represents
faith in the work of Jesus Christ. Crosses are found
around the necks of countless believers bent in prayer
and seen piercing the bluest of skies, pointing upward
toward heaven.
We tend to skip the events (or lack of events) of
Holy Saturday. What the Son of God did while
physically dead remains ambiguous at best, with only
veiled and debatable Scriptural references.
But Sunday …
Easter Sunday is the day inexpressible, glorious
joy was born in the human heart. Our crucified Savior
shattered the cold grip of death and walked out of the
tomb. If we were given a glimpse of that moment in
time, we would peer into a tomb whose occupant decided
to leave. We would behold the confusion and fear
written on the faces of soldiers guarding a hole in
the rock. And, of course, we would see a large stone
casually set to one side.
Peter wrote about this event and praised God for
"our new birth into a living hope" that
comes by way of our faith in Christ's resurrection (1
Peter 1:3). In the same passage he spoke about a joy
too incredible for words. Such is the Easter faith we
celebrate. We have new life because Jesus stepped out
of the tomb alive. What's more, the life we have in
Christ is abundant and joyful.
Easter Sunday is what makes the preceding Friday
good. Without Easter, Good Friday would be the worst
day in the history of civilization. Without Easter,
hope is folly, joy is a delusional fantasy, and
despair is the human lot.
So given the importance of Easter, and considering
that Good Friday has the cross, by what symbol should
Easter be remembered? Should we mount little boulders
and wear them around our necks to remind us that the
tomb is empty? That probably won't catch on.
Perhaps a better symbol of our Easter faith is not
jewelry but a changed life, marked by a big, wide,
toothy smile. Unspeakable and glorious joy belongs to
Easter people who have been made alive in Christ.
This Easter, attend the worship service of your
choosing and claim the abundant life and inexpressible
joy that our Risen Lord alone provides.
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