He Lives

Not the Kingdom of Death

"Christ is risen!

We give thanks for the gift of Easter

that runs beyond our explanations,

beyond our categories of reason,

even more, beyond the sinking sense of our own live.

We know about the powers of death,

powers that persist among us,

powers that drive us from you, and

from our neighbor, and

from our best selves.

We know about the powers of fear and greed and anxiety,

and brutality and certitude.

powers before which we are helpless.

And then you...you at dawn, unquenched,

you in the darkness,

you on Saturday,

you who breaks the world to joy.

Yours is the kingdom...not the kingdom of death,

Yours is the power...not the power of death,

Yours is the glory...not the glory of death.

Yours...You...and we give thanks

for the newness beyond our achieving.

Amen."

(Walter Brueggemann, Easter Tuesday/April 25, 2000)

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"Now Thomas, one of the Twelve, called the Twin, was not with them when Jesus came. So the other disciples told him, 'We have seen the Lord.' But he said to them, 'Unless I see in his hands the mark of the nails, and place my finger into the mark of the nails, and place my hand into his side, I will never believe.'

Eight days later, his disciples were inside again, and Thomas was with them. Although the doors were locked, Jesus came and stood among them and said, 'Peace be with you.' Then he said to Thomas, 'Put your finger here, and see my hands; and put out your hand, and place it in my side. Do not disbelieve, but believe.' Thomas answered him, 'My Lord and my God!' Jesus said to him, 'Have you believed because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.'

Not Jesus did many other signs in the presence of the disciples, which are not written in this book, but these are written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name."

-John 20:24-31

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A few Easter thoughts... :)

Today He reminds me (us) of his power over death. He broke the arms of death--arms that could not hold him--and shattered the power of darkness. And instead, He embraces us with his arms and infuses the darkness of this world with light. We need His newness. We are ready for newness. We are grateful for newness, and life.

He is a God of remarkable surprises. He is the One with no odds against Him to keep his vision of redemption at bay. All things will be made new and made right.