What Do You Expect to Find?

It occurred to me as I was reflecting upon these Easter texts that it was only about a month ago that I was in Jerusalem, visiting the locations where pilgrims believe Christ’s resurrection to have happened. I say ‘locations’ because Christianity has never been an exact science. In the Holy Land there often are at least two places that an event described in scripture might have taken place. In the beginning of my time there, this really bothered me. I wanted some kind of historical or archeological proof to be sure that the place that I was visiting was really the place it claimed to be.

Annointing Stone

The first location that claims to be the place where Jesus was crucified, died, was buried and then resurrected is the Church of the Resurrection in the heart of Old Jerusalem. This is the traditional site that the Roman Catholic and Eastern Orthodox Churches believe to be the true location.
Just inside the main entrance of the church is a large, smooth stone. This stone is reported to be the remains of the stone table where Joseph of Arimathea would have prepared Jesus’ body for burial. Any given moment of the week modern day pilgrims bring their burial shrouds and rub them on the stone and pray.

To the right and up a narrow flight of stairs is Calvary. Lines of the faithful file past to see the place that held Jesus’ cross. They speak many languages, many carry rosaries and medals and other religious items. Ancient icons, glimmering with gold leaf, stare down from the walls. Frankincense burns and fills your nose and mouth with its sweet pungent scent. Here in Calvary I was able to kneel down and place my hand in the spot where it is thought that the cross stood. In the center of the Church is the Sepulcher, believed to be the tomb of Jesus. I tried to gain entrance to the sepulcher a number of times, but the throngs of pilgrims pushed me back. In fact, the noise of the crowds and the busyness of the place was almost too much for me, and both times I visited the church I had to find a quiet hallway in which to gather my thoughts. I had expected to find peace there in the church, but instead found myself enthralled by the great expanse of humanity I encountered. If I was looking for Christ in the faces of other pilgrims, this was the place to be.

Golgotha at Garden Tomb

The Garden Tomb is the second location that claims to be the execution, preparation, burial and resurrection site for Jesus Christ. It is located about a block outside the old city gates. It was discovered by an archeological dig in the 19^th century. A cliff face was found here that, if you squint and turn your head, looks like a skull. There is what appears to be a first century tomb, and a garden with an ancient wine press. It’s the very image of what you’d expect it to look like if you’ve ever seen a picture in a Children’s Bible. And it has a great gift shop.

My time at the Garden Tomb was spent mostly sitting at on a stone bench, listening to the birds, feeling the sunlight warm my face. What I had hoped to find, when I visited both of these places, was something that would deepen my faith. I wanted to feel the presence of Christ. Witnessing the devotion of the pilgrims at the busy Church of the Resurrection and sitting quietly outside the Garden Tomb both brought me deeper into the mystery of what this Easter story is all about.

It’s a harder story to tell than the Christmas story. Instead of a bunch of shepherds joyfully racing across the fields to see a newborn child, here at Easter we have only a small group of women who timidly head off early in the morning to care for a dead body in a cold, damp tomb. Instead of a sky full of singing angels, here at Easter we have only one angel, at least we guess he’s an angel since he’s wearing a white robe. When those women went to the tomb early that Sunday morning, they were going there to finish the burial procedure which had been put on hold because of the sabbath. They went, expecting to find a dead man. But what they found was a little bit of cloth and a whole lot of hope. Just like those first women, we come with little or no expectations. We come to honor a man who lived up to his teaching, to honor someone who died a horrible death on a cross. But as we huddle around the grave, that lone angel comes to us and says: “He is not here. He is risen.”

Today, the living resurrected Christ stands before us. He knows us and He knows our fears. We’re afraid of economic hardship, we’re afraid of debt, we’re afraid of diminishing resources, and environmental destruction. We’re afraid of racial tensions and the increasing gap between the rich and the poor. We’re afraid of the hurt between men and women, between people of different nations, and we’re afraid of endless war. We fear for ourselves and those we love. Like those first disciples, we’re afraid of the power of the systems of the world with their armies, their courts, their prisons, and their threats. Like them, we fear our own powerlessness, weakness, and sense of inadequacy. We’re insecure, frightened by our feelings, and wary of trusting each another. We feel both the guilt of our sin and the vulnerability of our broken places. Above all, we fear pain, suffering, and death. Like those first disciples we too are hiding behind locked doors, afraid to come out. Jesus lived and died to liberate us from our sins, our doubts, our fears, and the addictions we use to medicate and numb ourselves. And now, Jesus calls us to boldly pick up our crosses and follow Him! But He wants us to do so knowing that no matter what, God will make things right in the end!

So, what about us? What about you and me today? Does Jesus’ way of love make much sense in this modern, competitive, might-makes-right world? Do we think this kind of “suffering servanthood” can make a difference or transform our world? I believe that every time we act and follow his teachings, every time we operate from a place of love, every time we put our faith into action, we’re demonstrating Jesus’ resurrection. Every time we love our enemies; stand with the poor; forgive those who’ve wronged us, or resist the violence of the nations by acting for peace, we’re demonstrating the realm of God. The hope of the resurrection is that this world is not just where Jesus died - this world is where Jesus lives! And because Jesus lives, because God has broken the power of sin and death, we have been set free to live as well. Sometimes that is hard to believe. Some days it is hard to see with eyes of faith. That is why we need one another, so that in those times when our sight is blinded by tears, we can hold on to another's faith. This is a day to celebrate, for we find that we have been set free! Even though the tears may stream down our cheeks at the atrocities of this world, we can get up and follow our leader, running through the cemeteries and the streets, the Pentagon and the Capitol, the hospitals and clinics, the board room and the back alleys, thumbing our noses at death. For Christ is risen - Risen Indeed!