Prepare To Celebrate

For quite a while, the contrast between the observance of Advent and Lent bothered me. During Advent, we do special readings, light Advent candles, and many use Advent calendars for daily preparation for Christmas day. However, during Lent most Christians in the Protestant tradition do nothing in preparation for Easter! Many years I hear more about the Easter bunny than the Cross and Resurrection. This bothers me because Easter is crucial to our faith and preparing / meditating on it is at least as important as it is for Christmas.

2004 was wonderfully different, since The Passion Of The Christ started showing on Ash Wednesday people talked and thought about the events of Holy Week more than I can remember. And that included me.

With all the attention given to the events of Good Friday, we must not forget the Resurrection. The two are related. Really, they are like two sides of a coin, they are both vital to our faith. That is why I really like the closing scene in the movie. It shows the dark inside of the tomb, then the stone slowly rolls aside allowing light to come in, the grave clothes deflate, lastly you see Christ stand healed except for the nail holes and with a triumphant expression stride from the tomb. I talked with some people who were so caught up with the Good Friday scenes they missed this short ending scene. It is a vital part of the story and we need to see it. Concerning this Mel Gibson said, "Without the resurrection, our faith is dead. The story's not complete without it."

Paul agrees, in 1 Corinthians 15 he has a long discussion of the Resurrection. He argues that, "If there is no resurrection of the dead, then even Christ has not been raised. And if Christ has not been raised, our preaching is useless and so is your faith. ... And if Christ has not raised, your faith is futile; you are still in your sins. Then those who have fallen asleep in Christ are lost. If only for this life we have hope in Christ, we are to be pitied more than all men." {1 Corinthians 15:14-15, 17-19} Without the Resurrection Jesus is just another godly person killed, buried, and gone.

Fortunately, there is the Resurrection scene, not just in a movie but also in reality! "But Christ has indeed been raised from the dead, ... For what I received I passed on to you as of first importance: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures, and that he appeared to Peter, and then to the Twelve. After that, he appeared to more than five hundred of the brothers at the same time, most of whom are still living, though some have fallen asleep. Then he appeared to James, and to all the apostles, and last of all he appeared to me also, ... Therefore, my dear brothers, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain." {1 Corinthians 15:20a, 3-8a. 58}

Paul starts his epistle to the Romans with this great affirmation, "Paul, a servant of Christ Jesus ... who through the Spirit of holiness was declared with power to be the Son of God by his resurrection from the dead: Jesus Christ our Lord" {Romans 1:1a, 4}I am so grateful that it does not end with Christ's death on the cross, but with the Resurrection! All you and I can do is to thank him for it and live our lives in a manner tohat will please him.

During Lent make a choice to Prepare for Palm Sunday, Maundy Thursday, Good Firday, and of course the glory of Easter-Resurrection Sunday.

Written by Rev. Daniel B. Baker April 2004



Articles by Rev. Daniel B. Baker :: Webmaster: Joseph I. Baker