The Power of the Resurrection

 This Sunday is not about an Easter Bunny. It’s not about an Easter basket, chocolate, or even Peeps. IT’s not about the disciples not believing the women or not believing the two men who met Jesus on the road to Emmaus. It’s not about politics. It IS about Jesus conquering death and coming back to life. Since Jesus had the power to conquer death and sin, we have the power to have freedom, forgive, and love. 

Freedom. Jesus died so we could be free from our sins. His death was a sacrifice. His resurrection declares that His sacrifice is permanent. We do not have to pay for our sins.  Jesus paid for our sins with his death and resurrection. 

Jesus conquered death, and we are free to choose to accept it or not. Jesus does not force us to follow Him or to believe in Him. When we choose with our own free will that Jesus gives us to believe in Him, he frees us from our sin which gives us life. 

The power of the resurrection gives us freedom and the responsibility to live free in Christ. “The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. The sting of sin is death, but the gift of God is life.” (1 Corinthians 15:56; NIV) Many Christians believe that our life in Christ begins when we die and we spend eternal life in Christ. That is true, but it is not when our life in Christ begins. Our life in Christ begins the moment we choose Christ. 

Spiderman is right, with great freedom comes great responsibility.  We are free in Christ, but we must live as we are in Christ and not just as those who do not have Christ. We love with our words and posts on social media because we know that it is more important that people see Christ rather than our political agenda or how right we are. We have the freedom to choose.  How we choose can determine the choice of someone choosing Christ. 

The power of the resurrection brings forgiveness. Jesus forgave us for our sins through his death. We must be willing to forgive others when they sin against us. Jesus said that if we forgive others of their sins, then our sins will be forgiven. We want God’s forgiveness, but we struggle to forgive others of their sins. 

Jesus’s resurrection reminds us that forgiveness is a powerful act. Before Jesus gave up his spirit on the cross, He said, “Father, forgive them for they do not know what they are doing.”  (Luke 23:34: NIV) If at his lowest point in life and his dying words can be to forgive those killing him, then we can forgive others when they sin against us. However, forgiveness is not easy, but it is a powerful act. 

So many people believe that if they don’t forgive someone it does two things. First, it hurts the person they are not forgiving. Second, it reveals the power of the person unwilling to forgive. Both ideas are wrong. Forgiveness is powerful. It’s not the effect of the power on the other person, but on the person that forgives. When you forgive, you are letting go of the hurt, and you become powerful because you are not allowing the other person’s sin have power over you. Jesus revealed his power on the cross and his resurrection with his forgiveness. 

The power of the resurrection brings love. Jesus died and rose again because he loves us. We can love others because of the love Jesus has for us. We don’t love with a love that tolerates, but with a love that reveals kindness and hope. We can be patient. We don’t boast. We endure. 

Today, may we realize that with the resurrection of Jesus we have the power of freedom, to forgive and to love. This day is about the power of Jesus. This day is about Jesus. Let us live our lives so other people can see Jesus. 

Finding Peace in the Chaos

Last week started with another one. As a teacher, I was reminded that with one week before Spring Break, I had to remain vigilant, even though I was exhausted. For whatever reason, a monster decided to take a gun and shoot three adults and three young children at a school. I don’t care what the beliefs of a school are. I don’t care what color the people are. I care that we have a crisis in our education system, and the chaos continues. How do we find peace? 

I have no words for the families of those who lost so much in that tragedy in Nashville. Their hurt is inconceivable. How do they find peace in the chaos? I have friends who have lost loved ones to cancer this week. How do they find peace in the chaos? the media is screaming about politics, wars, and violence in our communities. How do we find peace in the chaos? Tornadoes, snowstorms, and rainstorms are devastating our communities. How do we find peace in the chaos? 

I don’t like simple answers to complex problems. Many Christians will proclaim that to overcome the chaos you just need to pray. After I’m done praying, the chaos is still there. Those Christians remind me of Job’s friends. Job’s friends gave him the advice that he was suffering because of his sin and that he was not communicating with God. I don’t want to be like Job’s friends. I will declare that peace is difficult to find in the midst of chaos. Then again, maybe I want the peace that the world has and not the peace that Jesus offers. 

Worldly peace means we have no troubles. Jesus warned us that in this world we will have trouble. The peace that Jesus gives is not a life without trouble, but a comfort during the chaos. Jesus doesn’t offer us a comfortable life, but a life of comfort for when the trials come our way. Trials will come. How we respond to the trials brings us peace or more chaos. 

I used to always ask God, “Why does this always happen to me? Why don’t other people have these same problems?” I was good at looking introspectively. I was horrible at seeing the struggles that other people have and how they worked to hide them. Now, I work to be better at the latter. I discovered that for some of the chaos, I created it. For the other chaos I didn’t create, I needed to find the peace for it. 

Finding Peace

During the pandemic, I discovered taking walks. Living in Culver City was difficult. I lived in an area that was just apartment complexes. I found a deserted work area as no one was able to go to their businesses. So, I would walk there. Then, I would slow my pace. I would watch the sunset. I would journal. I would pray about all kinds of things. Today, I still walk in an area with more nature. Anaheim has space with grass and a beautiful view of the mountains. 

Find a place where you can sit and reflect. If it is outside, that could be better. Jesus went to the Mount of Olives often to reflect and pray. He was away from the crowds, so it was quiet and peaceful. He prayed for the chaos of his immanent death not to come, but it did. He endured the chaos so we could have freedom from our sins and find peace in our hearts. 

Pray but not just by yourself. In my Bible study class at church, we have a group text where we put our prayer requests. My phone dings all the time. Knowing that others are praying for you brings peace. Even in the chaos, peace can come in the forms of knowing that other people are there for you. 

No one knows your emotions going through any kind of chaos but knowing that you are not alone brings comfort. Not only do you have friends who know your chaos, but there are people in the Bible who have endured your troubles. After I left youth ministry and felt abandoned, I found comfort in the account of Joseph in the Old Testament. He had to change his course in life and go down a strange new path with new people. He never lost faith in God. His life was chaotic. He found comfort in God. His account reminded me that in the depths, God is there. 

So, why does God allow the chaos? Why doesn’t God just stop the monster from coming to the school to kill people? I have asked this question over and over again. In my trials, I discovered that if God could control the evil people, then he would have to control all of us. God gives us all freewill to choose our actions. We must choose to respond with love and not hate. This taught me to focus on my actions and reactions and not the actions of others. I cannot control others. I can only control my reaction to the chaos others create. Choose to respond with calm and not insults. 

Be courageous. I have found that to find peace, I had to be courageous and move forward. I couldn’t remain stuck in my sad situation. I had to move. I had to keep going. I prayed, connected with friends, and read the Bible. I walked in nature. I exercised and breathed. I didn’t wallow. I didn’t take revenge. I remained in the peace of God and allowed him to comfort me. 

Take the time this week before Easter and find your peace. Allow God to give you the peace in the chaos that surrounds you. This Easter, remember that it was in the midst of chaos that Jesus died for your sins. In the quiet peaceful Sunday morning, he rose from the dead. Don’t miss the miracle of life in the midst of chaos. Find the moments of quiet and remember God is there for you, even in the chaos.