Celebrating Easter this year, and during the COVID Pandemic, makes it so unique, unlike all the others I can remember. 

So, what makes it then so unique? 

There are many reasons why Easter is so unique this year. 

 

The Element of Fear

 

The first reason why Easter is so unique this year is the element of fear.

Fear was so real soon after Jesus’ crucifixion. The eleven decided to socially distance themselves from everyone else.

Note that the first twelve disciples, Jesus had originally called to follow him, minus Judas Iscariot who hang himself following Jesus’ arrest and his death sentence.

Does that not sound like Social distancing, which is one of the guidelines we’re using to stop the spread of COVID 19? 

The eleven chose to do so in order to save their lives. They weren’t in fear of any virus, but the religious leaders who had arrested Jesus and made sure that he would die on the cross. 

The disciples deserted Jesus and lived in hiding for quite some time (see Matthew 26: 56 and Mark 14: 50). 

The Gospel, according to John, is the only one to mention the fact that only one of the eleven was where Jesus was crucified (John 19: 26).

[bctt tweet=”Fear paralyzes us mentally, emotionally, and physically!” username=””]

The element of fear, sometimes, if not always, finds its roots in doubts and lack of trust. Not to say that the disciples didn’t trust Jesus. They had lots of doubts and fear of the unknown. 

So, the first Easter wasn’t close to a celebration like the way we do it today. 

Easter, this year, therefore, reminds us of the first Easter Sunday with people in hiding and isolation from one another. It reminds us of those feelings of fear, doubts, and uncertainty. 

 

The Truth About Easter

 

The truth about Easter, which all four Gospels agree on, is that on Sunday (third day after Jesus’ death), the tomb was empty (Read Matthew 28, Mark 16, Luke 24, and John 20). 

Here’s the thing.

[bctt tweet=”Space and time don’t define God!” username=””]

God created space, time, and everything in them. That’s what Scripture tells us. Read Genesis 1 and 2. Also, God can change space and times (Daniel 2: 21). 

They killed Jesus, buried him, and guarded the tomb, thinking he would never get out. But, what they didn’t know is that Jesus is the author of life (Acts 3: 15). Jesus is the resurrection and life itself (John 11:25).

Jesus had already conquered death before even dying because he is Life (John 14:6)! 

We, on the other hand, define ourselves based on space and time. That was probably the reason why the disciples struggled with the concept of the dying Messiah. 

We think and establish our belief system drawing on whatever space (context) and time, where we’ve lived. 

A lot of times, and over the history of humankind, we’ve always attempted to make God and the story about God more appropriate to our cultural contexts (time and space). 

But that’s not who God is. God is bigger than anything He has created: time, space, and all living (and non-living), visible and invisible creatures. 

[bctt tweet=”The proof about the true power of God is the empty tomb!” username=””]

Not only it’s proof of who God is, but it shows that there is hope in Christ. 

This hope comes from the truth the Gospels proclaim: 

He is not here, he has risen, just as he said. Matthew 28: 5-6. ESV.

You can also find the same truth in Mark 16: 5-7 and Luke 24: 6-7. In John 20, the author also talks about the empty tomb, but not using the above phrase.

In John, instead of the angels, unlike in Matthew, Mark, and Luke, it’s Jesus, himself, appearing to the women after Peter and John had left the empty tomb. 

 

Easter = A Promise + A Mission

 

Whether it’s the first Easter Sunday or Easter at all times until the second coming of our Lord, Jesus Christ, Easter means a promise and mission. 

When you carefully read the resurrection stories in all four Gospels, Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John, you come across a promise and mission. 

Remember, it’s a human promise and mission. 

If you haven’t noticed yet, the disciples, Jesus had called, didn’t keep their promise to follow him until the end. They broke it just as you and I keep breaking our promises with God or each other. 

So, there is no way Easter can be about our promises because, one way or another, we will break them. 

Here are God’s promises and mission Easter is all about, based on the four Gospels:

Matthew 28: 16-20

• • • Easter promise: I am with you always, to the end of the age.
    • Easter mission: Go and make disciples of all nations.  

Mark 16: 14-18

• • • Easter promise: Signs will accompany you – casting demons out, speaking in new tongues, and healing.  
    • Easter mission: Go into all the world and proclaim the gospel to the whole creation. 

Luke 24: 44-49

• • • Easter promise: The promise of the Father – the Holy Spirit  
    • Easter mission: You are my witnesses. (Also, see Acts 1: 8, the second book of Luke).

John 19: 19-23 

• • • Easter promise: Peace be with you and receive the Holy Spirit; If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them, if you withhold forgiveness from any, it is withheld. 
    • Easter mission: As the Father has sent me, even so, I am sending you. 

 

Bringing it together

Easter is all about God choosing you to partner with Jesus to write a new story. It’s the story that draws on what God has already done for you. This story becomes yours because you’re choosing to believe in the risen Lord. You let Jesus change your life so that he can also transform everyone else’s life, now through you. As a result, we all find hope even as we go through this pandemic. The resurrection of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ teaches us that nothing, including death, can stop us from experiencing God’s new life we now have through faith in Jesus!