The most amazing weekend has just passed – remembering the resurrection of Jesus of Nazareth. Three little words that changed history: Christ is risen!
The climax of the story takes only one chapter in each of the four gospels, but those three words echo loudly: Christ is risen!
“Christ is risen!” is what the angels at the tomb told women early that Sunday morning. Don’t look for the living among the dead. Jesus’ whole ministry was about bringing life into each person. Now we see all that he meant.
“Christ is risen!” is what the women told the 11 disciples – and everybody else – immediately after they left the empty tomb. The story sounded like nonsense to them, so the men didn’t believe it right away.
“Christ is risen!” is what Cleopas and his companion told their traveling companion. They had heard the women’s report that morning and still didn’t know what to make of it. They didn’t know their new friend was the risen Jesus himself until he broke the bread in the village of Emmaus. During their seven mile journey, Jesus taught them all they needed to know from the Hebrew Scriptures.
“Christ is risen!” is what Cleopas and his companion told the other disciples back in Jerusalem.
They ran the seven miles back as soon as they recognized Jesus in the breaking of the bread. As everybody heard Cleopas’ story, Jesus appeared among them in person, offering peace. He was no ghost.
“Christ is risen!” is what my family, teachers, and pastors taught me as I was growing up.
They not only taught it to me in class and sermons, they showed it to me in changed lives. They showed me hope, joy, and peace. They made this three word sentence the most powerful sentence ever uttered.
“Christ is risen!” is the message that became more real with each funeral – both the ones I attended and eventually started leading. God’s love for us is stronger than death.
Who told you, “Christ is risen”? Can you retrace the steps of how you came to faith? How you accepted that what’s impossible for humans is possible for God?
Whom have you told, “Christ is risen”? More people come to faith because someone they know and trust invites them. More than those who simply read books or try to figure it out alone.
On Easter morning during worship last week, the first thing I said to open worship was “Christ is risen!” And the people responded, “He is risen, indeed!” This is more than merely the traditional call and response. It’s our proclamation of faith. It’s an announcement to the next generations we have found the most meaningful sentence in the history of the world.
Since Christ is risen, we have a powerful perspective for ministry. From the youngest children and confirmation student just starting out to the oldest among us who feel life shutting down, we have confidence to tell one another nothing can separate them from God’s love. To the people getting married, they have a great resource in Jesus Christ if they would let him into their relationship. At work, at play, at every opportunity, the risen Christ assures us of hope.
I hope your Easter was joyous! I hope the joy never ends. Let’s proclaim it with voice and action: Christ is risen!
— Reflections appears regularly on the religion page. The column features a variety of local writers, coordinated through the Monroe Area Clergy Group. Randy Booth is pastor of Monroe United Methodist Church.
