GETTING READY – Part 3

Scriptures from Matthew 26 - 28

This week’s blog is about the hard stuff and I will understand if you choose to stop reading.  This is the part we skim over.  In our minds, we know what happened but, in our hearts, we can barely comprehend.  We do not want to feel or hear or …. We want to move quickly to Easter, but there is much we need to get ready for.

THE SOUNDS

What sounds do you associate with Easter?  Can you hear the silver drop into Judas’ hand?  Can you hear the crowd and priests making their way to Jesus?  Can you hear the scream of the servant, of the high priest, as his ear is cut off?  Can you hear Peter deny Jesus?  Can you hear the soldier’s staff as it strikes Jesus on the head?  Can you hear the crowd shout crucify him?  Can you hear the sound as the hammer strikes the nail?  Can you hear the cross drop into the ground?

Sounds…. Sounds we do not want to hear.  Sounds we cover up with Hosanna and blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.  But there were sounds.  Jesus heard them. 

THE ACTIONS

What actions do you associate with Easter?  The disciples fled.  Jesus was arrested.  The priests accused Jesus and spit on him and hit him.  Judas hung himself.  Pilate washed his hands.  Jesus carried his own cross.  Jesus felt forsaken. 

Actions…. Actions we do not want to see.  Actions we cover up by singing He is Risen and He Lives Forever.  But there were actions.  Jesus suffered them.

THE SEALED TOMB

Joseph took the body, wrapped it in a clean linen cloth, and placed it in his own new tomb that he had cut out of the rock.  He rolled a big stone in front of the entrance to the tomb and went away.

GETTING READY

We need to get ready for Easter by not sanitizing it.  We must never forget what it cost Jesus.  Getting ready means putting out candy and decorating with cute rabbits, while the tears drop from our eyes and our body stiffens as we remember each sound Jesus heard and each action Jesus suffered.

Getting ready means we do not skip over the verses that are hard to read because …..

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; ….”

Getting ready means we do not skip over the verses that are hard to read because those verses lead to a tomb – an empty tomb.