An Easter Reflection

Death.  Not generally a topic during polite,   dinner-party conversation.  It is, however, a realty for everyone, and it’s brought into stark, unsterilized focus in our rural village.  Last week, a 15-year-old neighbor girl died after giving birth to her first child.  Her 19-year-old “husband”—they were never married but living in a Come We’ll Stay arrangement—didn’t notice the warning signs until it was too late.

Another neighbor lost her third child at just a few weeks old.  We stopped by to offer our condolences.  We didn’t notice the small bundle wrapped in a blanket and lying on the mud floor of the hut until we nearly tripped over it.  Corpse of the babe.  Mother sitting in the same room with it since the moment of death.  The funeral was held in the backyard where the babe’s body was buried.

Why such morbid thoughts at the beginning of spring: symbol of the cycles of life and time of beginnings and new birth?  Because it’s on my mind after losing our young neighbors.  And  because during the Easter season, I recall another death.  Death significant for the masses of humanity.  Gentle God-man wrapped in human flesh and sent to an unbelieving and cruel world to save us from ourselves.  To teach us love as we showed him none. 

As we’re reminded at this time of year, Jesus was not murdered or martyred.  He willingly gave up his life to achieve the salvation of those souls who confess him as the Son of God and believe.  There were three long and terrible days when the world believed Jesus to be dead.  Some mocked and sneered.  Others cried.  Dark, dismal days of distress and  defeat for followers who expected a triumphal victory.  Thank God, the story doesn’t end there.  It never did.

When Romans 8:28 admonishes us that “God works all things    together for good,” the verse really means all things.  Imagine the confusion of the men who followed the Master.  His death was good?  If he hadn't died, we would all be without hope. Imperfect law-breakers.  But the law was never intended for us to keep.  Instead, it reveals our hearts and our need of a Savior.

Savior defied death.  “I have seen the Lord!” Mary proclaimed to men of unbelief.  He conquered death, and through that act offers us eternal life.

Our 15-year-old neighbor’s body is lying in a grave, and the babe, too.  But their souls live.  We are all creatures of eternity.  The question, where will it be spent?

As Jesus stretched his injured hand to Thomas, so he stretches it to each of us.  Do we turn away,       unbelieving, or do we proclaim with Mary, I have seen the Lord!?  Regardless of what we choose to believe, the fact remains.  Jesus Christ is risen!  He is risen, indeed.