Pastor’s Perspective: What are you expecting from Easter?

By Guest Columnist Spencer Sullivan, Pastor, Pelahatchie Baptist

When the calendar turns to May, there’s a lot of expectation and anticipation related to summer being just around the corner. There’s the anticipation of school letting out for a couple of months. And, whether you like it or not, there’s always the anticipation of the hot and sticky Mississippi summer weather. Perhaps there’s also the anticipation of a summer holiday to get away and relax for a few days. But as I anticipate each of these summer traditions, I currently find myself still reflecting on Easter, or more specifically, the resurrection of King Jesus. I hope that each of you were able to enjoy a meaningful Easter or Resurrection Day celebration. I hope your experience was one full of the worship of Jesus and also the tremendous hope that only the resurrection can bring you. As I continue to reflect on the resurrection, there’s a part of the old, old story that just hit differently for me this year.

Before Jesus went to the cross, Jesus explicitly told His disciples that He would suffer at the hands of the religious leaders, be killed, but then rise from the dead on the third day. He did this on at least three different occasions (Matt. 16:21-23, Matt. 17:22-23, & Matt. 20:17-19). We know that Jesus’ claim was known beyond just His disciples because in Matthew 27, the chief priests went to Pilate and asked him to put guards at the tomb in case His disciples would try to steal His body and claim that He actually rose from the dead. So, if Jesus made the effort to give His closest followers a heads up that He would rise again, why does Matthew 28 not begin with the eleven camping out at the tomb, anticipating the dawn of the third day? Sure, the guards were there, but why not be around the corner or watching from a distance on the hillside? Instead, we see the ladies arrive at the tomb. But, they were not anticipating His resurrection either. They were there to finish anointing Jesus’ dead body. And even beyond Him explicitly telling them what would happen, just days prior to the Passion Week, they had all witnessed Him raise His friend Lazarus from the dead after he had been in a tomb for 4 days! Yet, after all they had witnessed and heard, the third day dawned and there was zero anticipation that He would rise from the dead as He told them He would. Why?

Even after three full years of following Him and being taught by Him and witnessing His miracles, is it possible that they still didn’t fully grasp all that He was and is? Notice, in a few instances, Jesus’s followers had an encounter with the resurrected Christ, and yet still did not know who He was. In John 20:15, Mary Magdalene mistook Him for the gardener. In John 21, some of His disciples who were fishing did not immediately recognize Him. On the road to Emmaus in Luke 24, two of His disciples didn’t recognize Him until later in the day even after spending considerable time with Him.  In each case, they finally recognized Him when Jesus clearly revealed Himself to them. He was the One to open their eyes to see and their hearts to believe. Only after their encounters with the resurrected Jesus, did they fully understand.  

For me, there are a couple of takeaways. First, it is certainly possible to know who Jesus was and is, and even know all that the Bible says about Him, without truly knowing Jesus in His fullness. It’s possible to know all about Him, attend church regularly and listen to sermons, but still not know the life changing hope, peace, and joy that result from the resurrection. That’s a scary thought to consider. If you haven’t experienced true hope, the peace that doesn’t make sense, and the fullness of His joy regardless of life’s circumstances, I challenge you to press into Jesus and ask Him to open your eyes to everything that He is: Comforter, Joy Giver, Friend, Savior, King, and so much more! But, for those that truly know Him, do you live expecting Him to do great things in, around, and through you? Do you live expecting Him to fulfill His promises? Do you live confidently in hope? Do you live in obedience to His commands, all because of the hope of the resurrection?  While Easter is a day that we rightfully and joyfully celebrate His resurrection, let us live in that hope every day, because He is forever risen!