Tan: Easter: Facts, faith and feelings

MATTHEW 28:1-15

1. Early on Sunday morning, as the new day was dawning, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went out to visit the tomb.

2 Suddenly there was a great earthquake! For an angel of the Lord came down from heaven, rolled aside the stone, and sat on it.

3 His face shone like lightning, and his clothing was as white as snow.

4 The guards shook with fear when they saw him, and they fell into a dead faint.

5 Then the angel spoke to the women. “Don’t be afraid!” he said. “I know you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified.

6 He isn’t here! He is risen from the dead, just as he said would happen. Come, see where his body was lying.

7 And now, go quickly and tell his disciples that he has risen from the dead, and he is going ahead of you to Galilee. You will see him there. Remember what I have told you.”

8 The women ran quickly from the tomb. They were very frightened but also filled with great joy, and they rushed to give the disciples the angel’s message.

9 And as they went, Jesus met them and greeted them. And they ran to him, grasped his feet, and worshiped him.

10 Then Jesus said to them, “Don’t be afraid! Go tell my brothers to leave for Galilee, and they will see me there.”

11 As the women were on their way, some of the guards went into the city and told the leading priests what had happened.

12 A meeting with the elders was called, and they decided to give the soldiers a large bribe.

13 They told the soldiers, “You must say, ‘Jesus’ disciples came during the night while we were sleeping, and they stole his body.

14 If the governor hears about it, we’ll stand up for you so you won’t get in trouble.”

15 So the guards accepted the bribe and said what they were told to say. Their story spread widely among the Jews, and they still tell it today.

Easter is a timely invitation for us to not exchange “mystery in our faith” in favor of “mastery of our teachings.”

Easter includes significant facts that inform our minds, it also includes a call to respond with a faith that feeds our souls, and to remember that Easter has a wide-enough space for feelings of all sorts expressed by believers, critics and doubters.

The truth of Easter is unthreatened by the fake news of the ungodly. It gives way to see the grace of Easter that provides space for choices to be freely made.

Inclusive in the grace of Easter is the freedom to change one’s mind in the middle lane. The hope of Easter continually points to the risen Lord as our sufficiency and our blazing hope.

Easter is not about our agenda, it is about dying to our agenda, dying to self-preservation and rising again to walk in the newness of life in Christ. Revisit Easter...reviewing the facts surrounding it, renewing the faith that is ablaze in the hearts of those who really walk in it, not forgetting the uncensored feelings which respect our being human as opposed to the expectations of religion, free from the tyranny of fear to engage.

Easter Facts: Facts are actually the reports about the events of the resurrection of the Lord. It takes no sides...it just relays accurate information. Matthew records these facts:

1. Jesus is alive... Really alive. Resurrection not resuscitation. He really lived, He really died, and He really rose from the dead! All his claims about His deity, humanity and His offer of rest and redemption to those who will believe are all true!

2. Women were the first to know that Jesus had risen, before the other disciples. In the culture of that time, women and children and shepherds were so looked down upon that whatever they said was not taken seriously. In fact, in their legal system, their words did not count. The risen Lord consistently sided with the outcast. It’s interesting that sinners find a warm welcome while self-righteous folks get their dose of rebuke. Easter is a spiritual revolution... not just a holiday!

3. Soldiers were bribed to spread fake news. Their military discipline, medals and honor code did not work. Only Christ can truly transform the corrupt heart. Easter should be life-changing!

4. Religious leaders were the masterminds of fake news. Falsehood was approved to cover the truth. I think the church should not only look at others, it is time to swallow the bitter tablet that religion masterminded the lies about Christ. Easter initiates and facilitates cleansing by exposing the skeletons in the house of God.

5. Some worshiped Jesus and still some doubted despite having seen the risen Saviour. The gospel is good news, not fake news. It not only reported a survey that favored Christians, it reported even those who doubted!

Easter is transparency, not afraid of media manipulation.

Easter Faith: Faith is your response to the reports—the factual and the fake ones. To respond in faith is to believe the truth, to believe the truth means to reject the false.

Rejection of the false has its own consequences and rewards. Believing in the truth of Easter is choosing a radical redefining of ones journey, a radical change of devotion, a radical change of direction and a radical decision towards becoming a follower of Jesus Christ!

• Faith to face fear.

• Faith to bow down and worship the risen Lord.

• Faith that embraces mystery over mastery.

• Faith that takes the witness stand and say...my Redeemer lives!

Easter Feelings: Feelings are unreliable guides in our decision-making but it does not mean it is without use or function. The Easter story recorded many feelings expressed without censorship. I want to ask you today...when was the last time you were honest about your feelings?

True faith is not without feelings. Feelings are actually a wonderful sign that something is spiritually happening. To numb your feeling is not Christianity; it is Buddhism and perhaps fundamentalism. Easter allows the expression of emotions more than religion will tolerate...more than our Baptist structure can accommodate.

• Feelings were not censored

• Feelings of Awe and Reverence

• Feelings of joy and fear

• Feelings of doubt

Conclusions: Given the opportunity, take time to examine the facts, to respond in faith and to freely express emotions and feelings. Easter is a wonderful challenge that those who have heard, should now believe...courageously coming into the open amidst the mixed emotions of joy and fear to be a follower of the Risen Lord.

Easter is for those who have been swallowed by numbness and indifference to believe again! Easter is a timely reminder to us to keep believing, keep hoping, keep dying to self, to be fully ALIVE in Christ.

By the time this article is published, it will no longer be Easter. Well, Easter is never outdated! The Lord is risen, the LORD IS RISEN INDEED!

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