Cody's Corner: Easter Resurrection

In 1 Corinthians 1:23, we read: “But we preach Christ crucified. …”

Every year, as we draw near to going through the plethora of emotions that encompass the journey from the Triumphal entry to the Resurrection, I pause to take a breath and brace myself. I know that I am going to go from rejoicing and envisioning the palm branches being laid at the feet of our Lord and Savior, and hearing the shouts of, “Hosanna! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the LORD!”

Can you feel the excitement?

Do you see the joy on the faces of the children as they shout their praises to the Messiah? It makes my eyes brim with tears of joy, and makes this Baptist preacher want to dance. (That may not be legal. I will have to check.) What a celebration! If they would have been silent, the very rocks would have been crying out their praise instead!

Glory and Honor to Jesus Christ forever! Sadly, it does not last long, as we see a trusted member of the fellowship betray the Son of God for a mere 30 pieces of silver. To add insult to intimate injury, we see the treachery sealed with a kiss. The injustice of this act fills my mind with shock and anger. We see Jesus get dragged before people who had already been scheming for a while on how to kill him.

They bring false witnesses in to lie before the judges, and then when Jesus tells the truth, it seals his fate in the kangaroo court He was subjected to. This makes me start to cover my eyes as I get the sense that I do not want to see what is going to happen. I try to get off the emotional rollercoaster to no avail because it is going too fast. We see Jesus get passed back and forth from Jewish and Roman authorities, with no higher powers finding the most innocent man on the face of the Earth guilty. We see Pilate scourge Jesus, which was shown most artistically and heartbreakingly in the movie “The Passion of the Christ.”

My soul feels a pain for my Savior that tears do not quench, and that my mind cannot comprehend. We hear people cry the words “Crucify Him!” again and again. We see the crowd accept a murderer and reject the Lamb of God. I feel numb as I watch the man who was born in Bethlehem – and announced with a heavenly host – stumble.

He cannot even carry the cross he would be crucified on. We see the miracle worker hung on a cross between two thieves. People mock him, and soldiers gamble for His clothes. My head hangs low as I take in the whole scene. My eyes are burning, and the tears flow ceaselessly as I witness the greatest love being poured out for all mankind. We hear the cries of the words “My God, My God, why have you forsaken me?” We understand hope and faith can never be destroyed when we hear that, followed by the words “Into your hands I commit my spirit.” I see the disciples scattered like sheep, and each goes his own way after Jesus is taken down and put into the tomb of Joseph of Arimathea.

We see women go to the tomb and find heavenly messengers. We see the disciples run to the tomb. My heart feels like it is not only running with them, but flying on eagle’s wings. We see, we hear, and we witness the empty tomb. We know the most monumental act in history has happened, and I am in wonder at the gravity of what has truly happened. We see Mary continue her weeping and try to talk to the gardener because she thinks the cruelest trick has been played on her. Her tears are stopped short when the Risen Savior calls her by name, and she clings to Him.

My heart starts to stir within me as I see Lamb of God’s holy hands with holes in them send Mary on her way with a message of hope. We step out of the truth of what happened in the crucifixion, and the resurrection of the King of Kings and Lord of Lords. My heart, mind and soul are always in awe of our Savior. My heart is revived, my soul is strengthened, my hope is re-filled, my inspiration and motivation are overflowing, and my gaze if transfixed on the Lamb of God who was led to slaughter to save all who would believe.

I hope the colossal act of sacrificial love will take you through new valleys and heights as we celebrate the death, burial and resurrection of the Savior of the World. I hope also you will aspire like Paul did in Philippians 3:10: “That I may know Him and the power of His resurrection.” God be with you, and I hope to see you at the revival.