A Strange Easter

The last few weeks I have heard so many folks, Christian and non-Christian alike, say, “These are strange times.” Indeed, they are and as a result, this Easter was a little strange, too. This morning, my friends and I drove to church where an attendant held out a six-foot length of PVC pipe to help us park a “safe” distance away from other vehicles. We waved at the cute baby beside us then tuned the radio to the proper channel so we could hear the audio for church and turned our gaze to a giant screen, reminiscent of ones for drive-in movies. The only measure of normalcy was that the praise team led worship as usual followed by the pastor’s sermon. 

As I reflect on this morning’s unusual service, though, I think of how odd that first Resurrection day was. There was a violent earthquake. Angels whose “appearance was like lightning.” And an empty tomb. The women who loved Jesus and went to His grave expecting to anoint His broken, dead body must have been bewildered when they arrived and found Him gone. Then they heard the exultant angel’s message that Jesus had risen, “just as He said.” And there was Mary Magdalene who mistook Jesus for a gardener, yet instantly recognized Him when He called her by name. That evening, Jesus walked through a locked door into the room where His disciples were cowering in fear and declared, “Peace be with you!”

That first Easter was incomprehensible. It still is. The perfect Son of God died an agonizing death so we could have eternal life with Him and the Father. As if that gift is not enough, His sacrifice also offers us “abundant life” while we still walk this earth. All we have to do is believe in Him, accept Him as our substitution, and confess our sins. Out of His extravagant love and His overwhelming grace, the God of the universe and all creation, humbled Himself to take our place and endure the punishment we deserve. Strange indeed.