Easter Thoughts

In different seasons of life, the Bible comes alive to us in new ways. Here is a different look at some aspects of Easter passages.

— Judas, one of the twelve chosen disciples. Someone Jesus considered one of his closest friends, a man who lived life alongside Jesus…betrayed him for thirty pieces of silver (Matthew 26:15) — the equivalent of about $20. Did Jesus pick the wrong guy? Should he not have brought this person into his life, near to people he loved? John 13:21-27 tells us Jesus knew Judas was about to betray him. As the all-knowing God, He would’ve known at the time he called Judas to walk alongside Him that a betrayal somehow fit into the fulfillment of the Father’s plan for Him, that it would lead Him to the purpose for which He existed. It’s so hard in the pain and wreckage of betrayal to imagine it could be part of a plan for your life, but Judas makes us see it as a possibility.

— Peter, the man Jesus felt solid enough to be the foundation of the Church (Matthew 16:18), one of Jesus’ most beloved followers, denied Christ 3 times while Jesus himself was praying for Peter (Luke 22:32). This tells me that none of us are above temptation; any of us could fail. Yet there is encouragement in what Jesus tells Peter. At the exact time Jesus is telling Peter that Satan has asked to sift him and He will be praying for Peter, He says, “And when you have turned back, strengthen your brothers.” God’s plan for Peter did not stop with his failure. Jesus knew Peter would fall to temptation, but there was an assignment in place for him after he was restored, before he ever fell. Jesus knew Peter would turn back.

— Early on, at the time of Genesis 3:15, God shared His plan that Eve’s descendant would defeat the enemy. The entire Old Testament points to a coming Messiah. Isaiah 53 prophesies a torturous death for the Savior. See, long before Good Friday God had a plan that His precious son would shed His innocent blood as the sacrifice for the sins of mankind, fulfilling the law, bringing us under grace, extending salvation to all who would believe. It’s clear from the first book of the Bible that God had a plan for redemption. It’s clear in Isaiah that atonement would come at a great cost. Yet, most likely, those of Jesus’ followers who looked on as He walked up Golgotha’s hill to Mount Calvary could not fathom that such as this could possibly be the will of God. How could they make sense of something so unjust, painful, and ugly in light of their beliefs about God and what He should do, how He should accomplish His will, and how He should act? How could this possibly serve purpose?

Jesus, as part of the triune God, knew His purpose. He knew He was the atoning sacrifice to fulfill the law. In Luke 22:42, Jesus is in the Garden of Gethsemane praying, knowing what is ahead of him, asking God to spare him. Praying so hard that his sweat became as drops of blood, begging his father, “If you are willing, take this cup from me,” yet submitting Himself to the Father’s will even when it had him “deeply distressed and troubled” (Mark 14:33), saying in the end, “Not my will but yours be done.”

What an example for us. When we can’t make sense of something in life being so unfair, painful, and ugly… When it doesn’t align with what we think of God, how He should act, or what He should purpose and do… Submit to the Father’s will.

— For those three days Jesus was in the tomb, can you imagine how discouraged His disciples, the Marys, His friends and followers must have felt? It must have seemed all hope was lost. Oh, but this is the best Easter lesson. Hope was not lost. On that third day, Jesus rose triumphant, defeating sin and death. His resurrection power on display in that empty tomb. That same power available to us through the Holy Spirit (Romans 8:11). That same power at work guiding us to truth, bringing glory to God (John 16:12-16), and keeping hope alive.