Easter!
Easter is here! And as the lively pink blossoms herald the dawn of sunny springtime, we Christians celebrate a sweeter sort of Son-rise. Jesus Christ the righteous - friend of sinners, God in flesh, crucified for my transgressions, the sin-bearing Savior - has risen (HE HAS RISEN INDEED!) - “just like he said he would” (Matt. 28:6). This is the shining season of resurrection hope. But for weary strugglers like me, that means also resurrecting my hopes in Jesus. It is a season for refreshing my comfort and confidence that this Savior not only died for me, but yet He LIVES and makes me free.
Bedecked in happy pastels, brothers and sisters in Christ remind one another of this bright hope during the Easter season. So, to that end, I’d like to share some recent soundbites from two sophomores - that their words might refresh your hope and hearts, as they did mine.
“Not only did Jesus accept him, Jesus did what he needed to do in order to help Thomas believe.”
From Emma C.: My favorite moment in John’s gospel is when Jesus appears to Thomas. The other disciples had already seen Jesus and they believed. But Thomas had not been with them. When the other disciples told Thomas that they had seen Jesus, he did not believe them. When the disciples were together again, Jesus appeared to them in a room that had been locked. Jesus told Thomas to feel his hands and his side where the nails and spears had been. Thomas felt them and believed. Jesus easily could have turned Thomas away. Just as Thomas doubted that Jesus lived, Jesus could have doubted that Thomas would stay. But Jesus didn’t turn Thomas away. Not only did Jesus accept him, Jesus did what he needed to do in order to help Thomas believe. This is extremely comforting to me. Faith is hard and I do not always hold as steadfastly to my faith as I should. Like Thomas, I let doubt creep in. Sometimes I question if what I believe is real. But Jesus does not turn me away. All I have to do is find my way back to him.
“Jesus shows up just as he does at the right time.”
From Kanyon D.: My favorite scene in John is when Jesus has risen again and encounters the disciples fishing in John 21. His interaction with Peter portrays the whole gospel well and wraps up the main ideas into one encounter. It shows God's warm love and forgiveness, soft heart, Jesus’ power, and the power of repentance even from the worst sin possible. Peter, who denied Jesus right before his death, realizes that he messed up badly and has an enormous amount of guilt and shame haunting him. We can relate to Peter a little bit when we mess up and bear the weight and embarrassment of wondering what will happen when we are exposed. Peter is fishing to try to get his mind off of his guilt and while they are catching nothing, Jesus shows up just as he does at the right time. Not only has he risen and shown up on a sunny morning on a beach, but he allows the disciples to catch more fish then they can muscle in. Peter sees that it is Jesus and is shocked, so much that he would drop everything and jump into the morning ocean to try to swim to Jesus faster. Peter doesn't even have words, all he can do is be in the presence of Jesus. Jesus cooks them breakfast, and knowing Peter's shame, he makes it absolutely clear and good with Peter again by asking and affirming that Peter loves Jesus. Jesus then says that he has work once again for Peter to do in Jesus’ name. This scene shows Jesus’ love for us no matter how bad we mess up if our heart truly desires to seek repentance. It is comforting to know that Jesus’ love is so great that even when I faceplant into a trap of stupid sin, Jesus is always right there with open arms, loving and waiting for me to turn to him again with repentance and a grateful heart.
Amen & amen! Happy Easter :)
-Nathan Hettick, TRA Chaplain