Crucifying Jesus On Easter

It happened yesterday. I did not see it. But some pastor or church somewhere crucified Jesus for Easter. The claim ‘Christ is Risen’ was buried under “Jesus died for your sins.” Preachers are tempted by the size of the audiences on Easter Sunday to throw in the rest of Holy Week. There is an assumption that visitors on Easter need “to hear the Gospel preached.” Pastors then do exactly the thing that makes people avoid church the rest of the year. Visitors are told they are going to Hell unless they accept Jesus

The Witness of Jesus at Easter

Easter is about witnesses. The women, the Apostles, and the others talk among themselves about Jesus being raised from the dead. They saw him. They begin bewildered and end in awe of what happened. And they are all witnesses to these events. Of all the statements the Resurrected Jesus makes, none of them are about his sacrifice.

The new way of Resurrection is at hand. Jesus appears to them to bear witness to the new heaven and earth. The gospel is not “Jesus died for your sins.” The gospel message is the reign of God begins with his Resurrection. But the specter of revivalism raises it’s ugly head and screams that we should all feel guilty.

Revivalism

Revivalism is about guilt. The message is all about turning back to God to save us. It sounds like a good call until you realize it is about something other than salvation. Revivalism is ultimately about preservation. Years ago, some local large churches and “Christian business leaders,” decided to invite Franklin Graham for a revival. The message was “people need saving.” But the hoped for result was the preservation of an already existing order among church and the chamber of commerce. The newly saved or rededicated were supposed to get excited about the institutions.

The leaders were scrambling after the big event to pay for it. I received a letter saying “every church needed to do their part.” My reply was, “Neither me nor my church were ever consulted.” Revivalism is not about change despite the rhetoric used.

Denying Jesus

I often hesitate to hold funeral services where members of the congregation are asked “to say a few words.” My basic goals for “Services of Death and Resurrection” are comfort the family, honor the deceased person, and praise God. But all too often an audience member, often another clergy person, thinks I did not say the important thing. The deceased person accepted Jesus and is in heaven, they claim. And everyone should remember how Jesus died for our sins and we should accept his salvation.

Jesus is denied by these actions. How so? Because he never said anything of the sort. What Jesus did say is often ignored in favor of a message Jesus never gave. This year a group of local churches organized several revival events. One of these was on Maundy Thursday. There was an outdoor stage, a band, and speakers. It was typical. By contrast three small churches led by progressive clergy offered Holy Communion, blessing bags, and meal bags to the homeless in the community. One person asked for someone to read the parable of the lost coin. (Luke 15:8-10) He did not know where it was in the Bible. Thankfully, one of the clergy did. The words of Jesus meant something to him. Jesus is not denied in this way.

Empty Tombs

Lazarus, newly revived, stumbles out of his tomb bound by the burial clothes. Jesus does not do that. His tomb is empty except for the burial clothes. John makes this distinction. Most Easter messages I have given focused here and went nowhere else. I now believe that is a mistake. The gospel message does not stop at the empty tomb any more than it stops at the Cross.  There is no gospel when we do that. The words we use are just as empty if we stop there.

The teachings of Jesus, in the four gospels, are the words of the Resurrected Jesus. These are words that are to fill our lives. While the tomb is empty, it is only thing that should remain empty. On the other hand, it is open. And a few other things are opened as well.  Our hearts, eyes, and minds are open by understanding and witnessing by living these teachings. This requires changes in us. And therefore, repentance and the forgiveness of sins is preached throughout the world.