“They still did not understand from Scripture that Jesus had to rise from the dead.” (John 20:9, TNIV)

Dear Friends,

     “…And they all lived happily ever after.”  There is something about people, we love a happy ending.  Most people have a preference for stories, whether they are in books or dramatized in movies, which end well.  Think of our culture’s best loved tales.  In The Wizard of Oz, Dorothy found her way back home to Kansas and Auntie Em.  In Star Wars, Luke found his father and the evil emperor was defeated.  Even last year’s best grossing film, Toy Story 3 had a “feel good” ending. (I’m won’t spoil it, if you haven’t seen it yet!)  Yet as Tim Keller noted in His book based on the Gospel of Mark, The King’s Cross,  we live in a time when “Many are certain that life is meaningless and that happy endings are misleading at best.”  Even Jesus’ closest followers, “still did not understand” that “(He) had to rise from the dead,” in history’s ultimate happy ending!

            When we reflect on the life of Jesus Christ, it is obvious that the story had and has a happy ending.  Suffering, crucifixion and death are not the last words, the empty tomb and resurrection are!  The life of our Lord is realistic, true to life as most people experience it in so many ways.  There are days of popularity and triumph, Palm Sunday moments if you will.  Our child comes home, proud of earning a high grade on a test or exam.  Our boss tells us the company is giving us a raise!  A new baby is welcomed into a family and parents, grandparents and aunts and uncles could not be prouder.  Yet life is full of Good Friday moments as well. Our child’s teacher calls us to say that the work must improve.  Our supervisor at work tells us we are not needed anymore and that our job is being eliminated.  Our loved loses the battle against a terminal disease.

            Yet Easter, Resurrection Sunday was a day in a separate category completely.  The rising of Jesus Christ from the grave marked a final, permanent and irreversible victory.  Jesus died on the cross and will never die again.  He will never experience the pain of the cross again.  He will live and reign with God always and forever.  In fact of resurrection of our Lord is an event that will impact all people for all time.  In His resurrection we see the promise of the happiest and truest of endings, “The kingdom of the world has become the kingdom of our Lord and of his Christ, and he will reign for ever and ever. (Revelation 11:15, TNIV)”

            For the Christian, in the life of Jesus Christ, we discover our hope for a happy, blessed ending to our lives.  As we dare to believe that the Son of God suffered, endured the cross and died out of love for us, our sins are forgiven, our guilt is taken away.  In Christ, we know, “A man of suffering and familiar with pain”(Isaiah 53:3) who walks with us as we daily carry our “cross”.  In Christ, we face death, either that of a loved one or our own, with the hope of that day when He, “Will wipe every tear from (our) eyes. (When) there will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain.” (Revelation 21:4)

            Could there be any greater hope, any better happy ending than this?  I invite you to join me as we walk through Holy Week together this year, remembering the greatest of stories.  It begins this Sunday at 10am, Palm Sunday, as our Bishop, Peter Weaver shares the message.  You will want to be at the service Maundy Thursday evening at 7pm, as we reflect on our Lord’s suffering together.  And yes we will all want to gather together on Easter Sunday at 10am, to celebrate the resurrection of our Lord, the ultimate Happy Ending!

Because He Lives,

Pastor John