The Easter message on target

When we look for the roots of Christian Faith, we look to Abraham. According to our tradition, God called Abraham to be the beginning of a new nation that was to be God’s special people and servant of the world. Abraham’s lineage was to be a blessing to the whole world. Things did not work out, and Abraham’s people ended up in Egypt as a slaves in a strange land.

According to our tradition (I write as a Christian), God gave the Israelites a new shot at being a great servant nation with Moses and the Law. In a relatively short time, the Israelite Tribe became a significant nation with an impressive capitol city and a great temple in which their God was given a special place. In one of history’s greatest blunders, Israel decided their call was to rule the world rather than serve the world.

Contrary to the reminder stated over and over again in Mosaic law, they forgot what it was like to be a slave people in a foreign land. They themselves became the tyrant nation by armed might.

For over a thousand years (after King David) there was a parade of prophets (speakers for God) who called Israel to forsake their mega-vision for the original vision of Abraham: a servant people through whom humanity would be made whole and live in creative peace. The Israelite leaders from their thrones and high offices would not listen to the prophets. Israelites suffered the consequences of abandoning the Abraham vision. They were scourged, slaughtered, and scattered by their enemies.

I am amazed that the Israelites (Jews) continued to exist.

Jesus from Nazareth was a prophetic voice, who appeared out of nowhere. He was a Jew, whose appearance was unlikely. Jesus was poor, was from an insignificant, largely abandoned rural village, and was without formal education or status. In the materials about Jesus that have survived, there is nothing to indicate that he sought personal power or recognition. Central to his message was “If anyone desires to be great, let him be the servant of all.” He was a clear prophet about the Abraham vision and the bearer of the message of the other great prophets who spoke out in support of greatness through serving.

The service he advocated was from strength, not from weak submission. Jesus’ call for people to be servants was aggressive and demanding. His message challenged the supposed power of Rome and Jerusalem, kings and priests, the rich and the elite.

Jesus was martyred because of the words that he spoke and the symbolic actions he took. Jesus was not the first martyr for proposing radical change by peaceful means, and he has not been the last. History is paved with great men and women who gave their lives for just causes and challenging ideas. There is one huge difference between others that were martyred and Jesus. Jesus rose from the dead, is still alive, and will not back away from his message.

Was Jesus actually bodily raised from the dead? I cannot give a reasoned positive answer. The resurrection narratives found in the gospel records of Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John are full of inconsistencies and contradictions. The post resurrection narratives are so full of scientific fallacies that only a totally non-rational person can embrace them. Paul’s account of meeting the resurrected Jesus on the road to Damascus is couched in language that cannot be turned into verification of history.

What can be established about the resurrection of Jesus is that his followers very quickly embraced the resurrection as real and historical. This was especially true of his devoted followers who lived in Galilee as very poor peasants. Among his followers, their Lord Jesus was killed, but he did not remain dead. The form of his resurrection did not matter. He was alive and his messages were enduring.

After Jesus death and resurrection the band of Jesus followers were not much more than a nuisance to Rome and Jerusalem until the energetic Paul visited the centers of Roman civilization with the resurrection message. His correspondence with congregations that he established is the earliest known Christian writings. Every letter is a witness to the resurrection of Jesus. For Paul, believing in the resurrection of Jesus was the test of the true believer. For Paul, Jesus death was bodily, his resurrection was spiritual. This is not a viable explanation of the resurrection for me. It was for Paul. Explain as you may, but the resurrection of Jesus remained a working reality.

What is the significance of believing in the resurrection of Jesus? His message will not die. It raises an age old question. Are the people of God to be servants of everyone in the name of Jesus and the God of Israel, or are we to be rulers with power, prestige and dominance. This is the real Easter debate. I am sad to report that on Easter Sunday most preachers will cast Jesus and his followers into the role of rulers rather than servants.

Jesus is alive and well. He continues to call us to love mercy, do justice and walk humbly as we serve the world and a loving God.