Focus on Easter

Focus on the task at hand. It’s always been a sort of plan of mine, an ideal to live by. Block out the distraction and forge ahead. This is true for work mostly but it bleeds into my personal affairs. When I sit down to write I have to close out my browser or I’ll waste time on Facebook and Youtube. Tasks aren’t smooth and plans get disrupted constantly. Like most people I tend to waste time on trivial things. Christians need reminding, frequently, that people all around us need help. Easter is perfect for such reminding. Easter recognizes the risen Savior, the eternal promise fulfilled, hope for mankind. 

In the gospel of Luke the Angel tells Mary “Why do you seek the living among the dead?” This was Sunday morning, when Mary went to visit the Lord’s tomb and found the stone rolled away. We can almost sense a “What next?” aspect to this surprising news. We can even ask ourselves today if what we are seeking has lasting value.   

 Am I seeking life where it doesn’t exist? What regrets keep me from fully pursuing truth and purpose? Am I spending too much time with worthless pursuits? Not inherently evil plans but selfish distractions and empty victories. Do I put myself first in all things? 

By “life” I mean eternal, purposeful steps that lead others to truth and meaning. I don’t believe anyone can really pursue eternal 'good' unless Christ has changed their heart. There are countless examples of humans all over lifting up others through education or jobs, food and general welfare. Warren Buffet alone is responsible for incredible charity in both the US and around the world. The ability to change a heart isn’t possible through charity though. Only through surrender to Christ does a heart change.   

People everywhere seek happiness. We seek power, truth, pleasure and meaning. Often we need to rebuild our priorities from the ground up. It all gets to be too much. Stress and disappointment eat away at our soul and we forget about the larger picture in life. Or we just waste away assuming our past mistakes or victim status determine our future.

There is a great picture of God's grace from John 21:15 when Peter (Simon) sees the Lord after his Resurrection. The last time they saw each other Peter vehemently rejected even knowing Jesus. He did this on 3 separate occasions. Most of us fail the first time we’re squeezed. Jesus could drill Peter with talk of betrayal, shake his head in disgust. He zeroed in on Peter's regret and urged him to move forward instead.

So when they had eaten breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon, son of Jonah, do you love Me more than these? He said to Him, “Yes, Lord; You know that I love You.” He said to him, “Feed My lambs.”

He asked this of Peter 3 times, removing the burden from Peter’s mind and giving him a task. "Feed my lambs".

Why do you seek the living among the dead?

 For us it’s a cautious warning, don’t waste time with traditions of men. Don’t waste time regretting past decisions. Forget how you were raised, the people you hurt and the ones who hurt you. People everywhere need to understand the eternal. You must tell them. Tombs are for the dead. He is not here; He lives! Go and find them. In the short time between the Lord’s reappearance and his transfiguration into heaven He emphasized the ‘gospel’. “Go into all the world and preach the gospel…” (NIV)

Meaning and purpose and value aren’t found in the ‘dead’ things in life.

   

Easter is a reset for life. It’s a little like New Year’s Day but with an eternal purpose, a new hope. How can a 2000 year old story be a “new” hope? Easy. Death was defeated for all time for anyone who believes, a superhero story written by a divine author. One who loved His audience so much He wrote His own Son into it. 

So don’t seek the living among the dead. Look for the eternal purpose in every action and leave the past behind. We can now. The Savior is risen!