My children’s Easter best lay in the laundry room, her twirly dress and his white shirt grass stained from their search for treat-filled eggs. There are buckets of candy taking over the kitchen as I wonder how long I must keep those treasures before discarding them for fear we’ll all gain 10 pounds before we have to put on a bathing suit. This is the aftermath of Easter. Pastel wreaths and tiny bunnies will all be packed up this week as we move from the onset of Spring into the end of a school year. This is the cycle of life we follow, often moving without thought from one season to the next.
I’ve read a few beautiful posts this month about Jesus first appearing to women after his resurrection. My pastor delivered a powerful Easter sermon yesterday and he mentioned this fact as well. We read Luke 24, the account of the women who loved Jesus taking spices to his tomb.
On the first day of the week, very early in the morning, the women took the spices they had prepared and went to the tomb. They found the stone rolled away from the tomb, but when they entered, they did not find the body of the Lord Jesus. . .but the men said to them, “Why do you look for the living among the dead? He is not here, he had risen!” Luke 24:1-6 {ESV}
These women, loved by the Savior and so in love with him, were devastated at his death. Yet, as women often do, they used their sadness to fuel their care giving. For fear idle grief would be their ruin, they put their hands to what they knew best: caring for those they love. They prepared spices for his body and brought them to his tomb. And because of their ever ready, always outstretched hands, they were first to see his words fulfilled. They were there to see for themselves the reality of his resurrection.
As I write this, my 3 year old is asking me for help with his activity book over and over and over again. It’s enough to drive even the most patient mother crazy. I often think to myself, “why do they need so much from me all.the.time?!” And then I think of these women. . .women who loved Jesus more deeply than I could imagine. . .and I long to be like them. . .ever ready with outstretched hands to do his work and thus see his words fulfilled.
In his sermon, my pastor focused on a question that was asked several times in the gospels.
What are you looking for?
We read it at the beginning of the Gospel of John.
The next day John was standing with two of his disciples, and he looked at Jesus as he walked by and said, “Behold, the Lamb of God!” The two disciples heard him say this and they followed Jesus. Jesus turned and saw them following and said to them, “What are you {looking for}?” John 1:35-37
Later on in the book of John when Mary Magdalene stood by the empty tomb Jesus appeared to her and asked a similar question,
Woman, why are you crying? Who is it you are looking for? John 20:15
This question stuck with me as I thought about entering the post Easter season, going back to life as we know it after contemplating his life, death and resurrection and all it means for me today. We spent weeks through Lent and Holy Week with hearts and minds focused on the gift of salvation and then we jump back into life and often forget that those truths apply to us 365 days of the year, not just for 40 days leading up to resurrection Sunday.
My pastor said these words that I am chewing on today – the day after Easter Sunday:
The gospel isn’t a transaction that makes us feel better about ourselves. The gospel is about a relationship that transforms us.
And my own translation:
The gospel isn’t a 40 day Lenten journey because everybody’s doing it or a Sunday School lesson on Easter Sunday because the miracle of his death and resurrection deserves our short term attention. The gospel is what we live every single day of our lives.
We sang Phil Wickham’s song, This Is Amazing Grace yesterday. One line jumped off the screen for me,
Who brings our chaos back into order. . .
Each line in this song is a piece of the gospel. And for this mom who battles anxiety from the overflow of toys and the constant activity, this sums it up for me. The gospel is this simple truth and so much more.
The gospel is my impatience transformed into lingering moments with my children.
The gospel is my passivity transformed into a disciplined race towards all I must grab hold of for my health.
The gospel is my marriage transformed into a divine connection even after all these years.
The gospel is my grief transformed into peace that passes understanding.
The gospel is my weakness transformed into strength.
The gospel is my sin transformed into righteousness by grace alone.
This is what I am looking for. This is what I know can be found in him.
As we settle into our week, the day after Easter Sunday, he is asking us. . .
What are you looking for?
I pray you have some time today or this week to answer the question as you follow him.
What is the gospel to you in this season? How does it apply to your life right now?
This is excellent!