Commit your way to the Lord; trust in him, and he will act…(Psalm 37:5, RSV)
Easter changes everything. Jesus bursts out of the tomb in a supernatural flash of energy, and the stone meant to keep him securely inside is rolled away by angels. Jesus shows himself to Mary Magdalene, speaks her name and sends her on her way to announce his glorious, unimaginable triumph over death. Joy replaces grief and mourning.
Jesus suddenly enters the room where the disciples are fearfully hiding away behind locked doors. He speaks peace to their troubled hearts and shows them his risen body. And he reminds them of his promise to send the Holy Spirit to be with them and help them. Hope replaces fear and despair.
The disciples are locked in prison, guarded by soldiers whose lives depend upon keeping their prisoners secure inside. God sends his angel and the disciples suddenly, miraculously find themselves outside the dark prison, liberated. They also are given their assignment: tell the people everything about this life. Purpose, direction and holy boldness are strengthened.
The disciples are commissioned to invite their listeners to consider the peace, joy and satisfaction of living in the life made possible by the sacrifice and Resurrection of Jesus and the outpouring of the Holy Spirit. We too are given that same commission. Jesus has come not simply to open our “tombs” and liberate us from the power of sin (wonderful as that is!). He’s come also to give us the incomparable privilege of actually being able to share his very life, the life of the Trinity. It’s this life for which we were created, and it’s this life for which our hearts yearn. Friendship with God has been enabled and hope for an eternity with Love Himself has come.
Jesus longs to burst through all locked doors of grief, fear, despair and spiritual or emotional imprisonment in order to bring his peace, his comfort, his strength of purpose, his divine light and life. Sadly, we know many hearts which are shuttered, locked against his entry. We long for our loved ones – indeed all people – to know our Savior. Yet we frequently feel helpless to impact them. There are powerful barriers in place which keep them from seeing and hearing what we long to share with them.
When we consider our helplessness in the face of this, we are left with two things to do. We can faithfully pray, interceding on behalf of our dear ones, bringing them to Jesus for his healing touch. And we can actually live before them the life which Jesus enabled us to experience.
When we do our part – maintaining an attentive, listening heart and a willing, obedient spirit – God will do what we cannot do, for God alone knows how to accomplish impossible things and has the power to do so. He is the Divine Wonderworker who deigns to allow us, his beloved sons and daughters redeemed by the blood of Jesus, to participate (albeit haltingly, imperfectly) with him in his desire to draw all people to himself and restore all of creation to its original purpose.
He honors our loved ones’ free will, certainly. He will never compel anyone to respond to his generous offer of friendship. However just as sunlight will shine through even the tiniest crack into a darkened room, his love and mercy will come flooding in wherever there is even the slightest opening.
Jesus craves our complete trust in his love and goodness. And if we cultivate this trust, we can experience that perfect peace which no distressing or impossible circumstance can rob us of, the peace and joy of Christ Jesus himself. Then God himself will act when, where and how he knows is best, and the impossible can become possible.
Lessons From Love School 