Elizabeth Coppedge-Henley
Thoughts from our Senior Pastor
March 28, 2012 – The women were there first. The women were the first to proclaim an empty tomb and that Christ had risen. How grateful I am to be part of such bold faith. Depending on which gospel you read, there were several different things going on that first Easter morning. But one thing the gospels have in common is that the women were there and they were asked to go spread the news that the tomb was empty! They took part in telling the world that the love of God overcame the evil choices of humankind.
The women were there. They experienced the glory of resurrection. But, honestly, they experienced alot more than that. They experienced, wonder, and awe, and yes , they experienced fear. Fear. Fear. It is such a powerful emotion, and in many ways it’s the exact opposite of Resurrection.
Fear still dominates in our culture. There is so much fear out there. Some of it justified. Fear of losing our jobs; fear of poor health and less available healthcare; fear of failing relationships and the elusiveness of love. Fear for our kids, the world they grow up in, and the choices they may make. But a lot of fear isn’t justified; its random. There is fear in our culture between the majority and the minority. This week I am grappling with the Trayvon Williams case: fear that led to murder. There is the fear of gay marriage and that may allow some in our country to be denied human rights.
Fear is part of my life, too. Much of the above is part of it and more. But, again, fear is so contrary to resurrection. Resurrection opens the world to new possibilities. Darkness, death, betrayal, hate, fear, none of these emotions or attitudes have the last word. Not in God’s order of life. Not in the new life God offers to people of Resurrection. True, we believe that Good Friday is part of life. We know that the world can throw its worst at us and those we love. But let’s not get stuck in a world of Good Fridays and a world dominated by fear. Come Sunday, come Easter, the world is turned on its end by the amazing and all-powerful love of God. Easter shapes our life as God’s people. It is Easter that helps us to overcome the fear around us. It is Easter that teaches us the meaning of the power of love. Fear just won’t do.
The women were said to be fearful that first Easter. But that didn’t hold them back, not for long. God got them through and they told the truth as they had experienced it. That boldness is one of the miracles that come from Resurrection. What grand and glorious faith is ours!