I was recently in the Holy Land. While there I was able to see and touch many fascinating and unique things. I was able to go to the Mediterranean Sea and view the ancient aqueducts engineered by the Romans. We went to the Sea of Galilee and saw the “Jesus Boat” – a wooden sailing vessel which dates to the time of Jesus. I went to Jerusalem, and was able to see the Mount of Olives where Jesus was captured, the Golden Gate where Jesus entered the City of Jerusalem on Palm Sunday, and to see the Church of the Holy Sepulcher, where Jesus was crucified and buried on Good Friday. As I was going through the photos I took on this trip, I searched for a representation of something which reminded me of the first Disciples immediately following the crucifixion of Jesus. It came to me that they must have felt low, they must have felt that all that they had worked for, all that they had hoped for in life was gone with the capture, trial, and terrible crucifixion of Jesus on that first Good Friday. They must have felt as low as this photo I have included in the photo below, marking the lowest spot on land anywhere on the surface of the earth.
What they did not know yet was that on Easter Sunday, God had different plans for them, and that the seeming end was but the beginning of something better and something new.
In the Gospel of St. John, there is a post-Easter story of an encounter between Jesus and his disciples. The Gospel tells us that “Just after daybreak, Jesus stood on the beach; but the disciples did not know that it was Jesus” (Jn 21:4). The story does not tell us what Jesus looked like, but it seems to relate that when Jesus came to them, he did not appear in a way that they could immediately recognize him. It was only after they followed what Jesus told them to do that the presence of Jesus became real to them.
Life does not always give us what we want it to, or expect it to. Life often deals some harsh lessons, lessons that we wish we did not have to learn. What we can learn from Easter is that Jesus can relate to you because Jesus lived a life just like your life.
How did the Disciples live in a different sort of world than they had imagined? First, they did what Jesus told them to do. Second, they when their old mindset didn’t work any longer, they changed it. Third, to use a phrase of Joseph Campbell, they followed their bliss. For them, a living a life with and for with Jesus was exactly where they needed to be. For you and me, we are given talents and aptitudes which, if followed, help to make one content, happy, and give energy. If your life is not what it can be now, follow your bliss. It will lead you to places where you need to go. It will take you from the low place to the mountaintop. It will make you glad for the journey. One sure constant in life is change. Embrace the good change and opportunity, and you will be blessed.
In the season of Eastertide,
Keith

A few days ago I was able to see the city of Jerusalem, Israel for the first time. We came up from the Dead Sea (about 1400 feet below sea level), wound our way through several hills, went around a bend in the road, and there it was – Jerusalem, the golden city.
Dome of the Ascension, Bethany. Our guide, Ezra Eini (a veteran of the Six Day War and a superb guide) told us this: “You are only going to be in Jerusalem once for the first time. You are only going to see it for the first time, once. When you get off the bus, you will be accosted by many street vendors trying to sell you stuff. My suggestion to you is to ignore them. Bring your bible, and follow me into the chapel. I want to show you something.”

He led us up the stairs and through a courtyard. In the courtyard were street vendors and kids, trying to sell us posters, beads, and olive branches they had just plucked off of trees on the street. Ezra turned to me and asked me to read a section of scripture. He had me read Acts 1:8-11, which took place following the resurrection. Jesus said to his disciples: “But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” When he had said this, as they were watching, he was lifted up, and a cloud took him out of their sight. While he was going and they were gazing up toward heaven, suddenly two men in white robes stood by them. They said, “Men of Galilee, why do you stand looking up toward heaven? This Jesus, who had been taken up from you into heaven, will come in the same way as you saw him go into heaven.”

As I was reading this passage, I was standing on a large rock under an ancient domed chapel. On the rock was a small stone chamber and inside the chamber is a place where the rock is split, and it is said that the rock is split by the imprint of Christ’s right foot as he ascended into heaven.

In a few weeks we will celebrate Easter. Contained in the Easter story is the account of another rock that is rolled away from the tomb of Jesus.

Over and over again the bible tells us that before the culture is done with us our hearts (and heads) can sometimes become as cold and hard as rock. At Easter, God acts and Jesus steps into the light, and the barrier of stone is rolled away and in Bethany, the bedrock is split and changed forever.

This Easter, if your heart is cold and hard as winter, I invite you to let the warmth of Jesus to enter your soul and melt the places where your heart is hard. If you think the words of Jesus cannot change you, that in and of itself is a barrier. It may take some time and some effort, but the words of Jesus have a miraculous healing power when they are spoken aloud, when they are read into record of our soul. The power of the risen Christ seeks you today. Don’t block it out. Let Easter become real to you in a new way. What convinced people that Jesus was alive that first Easter was not so much the absence of a body but his living presence among them. It has been that way ever since. That is why we can celebrate with joy at Easter.

Happy Easter!

Keith