To Serve - Easter Reflections pt. 3 - Easter Sunday

We've looked at how Jesus took the role of a servant at the Last Supper and the crucifixion, and now we're wrapping up this series with Part Three of the Easter Reflections series. We've come to the joyful culmination - Jesus's resurrection!

No one expected joy at that time. Jesus, the Master, the Teacher, the Lord, had been taken off the cross and buried in a tomb. A stone was rolled over the entrance to the tomb, and Roman soldiers guarded the entrance, in order to quench the zeal of those who had put their faith in Christ. 

They did not expect what was to come just a few days later. 

Now after the Sabbath, toward the dawn of the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to see the tomb. And behold, there was a great earthquake, for an angel of the Lord descended from heaven and came and rolled back the stone and sat on it. His appearance was like lightning, and his clothing white as snow. And for fear of him the guards trembled and became like dead men. But the angel said to the women, “Do not be afraid, for I know that you seek Jesus who was crucified. He is not here, for he has risen, as he said. Come, see the place where he lay. Then go quickly and tell his disciples that he has risen from the dead, and behold, he is going before you to Galilee; there you will see him. See, I have told you.” So they departed quickly from the tomb with fear and great joy, and ran to tell his disciples. And behold, Jesus met them and said, “Greetings!” And they came up and took hold of his feet and worshiped him. Then Jesus said to them, “Do not be afraid; go and tell my brothers to go to Galilee, and there they will see me.” (Matthew 28:1-10)

He had risen. 

Despite the sickening betrayal, the long hours of agony and humiliation, the final horrific moments on the cross, despite his death -- Jesus rose. 

He came as a servant, to do the will of his Father. He came to conquer death. He came to be the perfect sacrifice, the Lamb without blemish or spot. The only sacrifice that could cover the sins of mankind. He paid for them with his life -- and then rose from the dead victorious. 

This came as a shock to the Pharisees and the soldiers, who had not believed in him. It didn't make sense to them, and they certainly didn't want that news getting out. 

Some of the guard went into the city and told the chief priests all that had taken place. And when they had assembled with the elders and taken counsel, they gave a sufficient sum of money to the soldiers and said, “Tell people, ‘His disciples came by night and stole him away while we were asleep.’ And if this comes to the governor’s ears, we will satisfy him and keep you out of trouble.” So they took the money and did as they were directed. And this story has been spread among the Jews to this day. (Matthew 28:11-15)

They succeeded in spreading the false account. It's sad that so many people were -- and are -- willing to believe that Jesus did not rise from the dead. That he was simply a good teacher, or the blasphemous heretic the Pharisees called him. The Jews chose to believe instead that the soldiers had slipped up in their guarding duties. That they had fallen asleep, and inadvertently permitted the disciples to come, roll away the stone, and whisk the dead body of their master away -- all without waking the soldiers guarding the tomb. They were satisfied with the weak explanation for why the tomb was empty.

But not everyone took the lie for truth.

Jesus revealed himself to his disciples. All were shocked. Some believed instantly. Some doubted, most notably Thomas.

So the other disciples told him, “We have seen the Lord.” But he said to them, “Unless I see in his hands the mark of the nails, and place my finger into the mark of the nails, and place my hand into his side, I will never believe.” Eight days later, his disciples were inside again, and Thomas was with them. Although the doors were locked, Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you.” Then he said to Thomas, “Put your finger here, and see my hands; and put out your hand, and place it in my side. Do not disbelieve, but believe.” Thomas answered him, “My Lord and my God!” Jesus said to him, “Have you believed because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.” (John 20:25-29)

He also gave his disciples a charge -- a command that is for every Christian. 

"Go therefore and teach disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age." (Matthew 28:19-20)

Jesus came to earth a servant. He is our King, yet he chose to live as a servant. The people expected a king who would sweep in and drive out the oppressive Romans. Not a child born in a stable, a man from Nazareth ("Can anything good come out of Nazareth?"), a teacher speaking in miracles and parables. Not he who admitted he "had nowhere to lay his head." No, he came to earth "not to be served, but to serve and to give his life as a ransom for many."

He came as a servant, lived as a servant, conquered death as a servant, all according to his Father's will.  

If we believe, truly believe, that Jesus is the Son of God and that he paid for our sins with his death, rose from that death, and stands now at the hand of the Father interceding for us, we have life. Abundant, eternal life through his name.

Because Christ came as a servant, to wash us clean, so that we may serve him. 

Easter is significantly more than a spring celebration with candy bunnies and eggs. Easter is a time to remember and rejoice in the work of our Savior and Redeemer. We have the opportunity, the privilege, the command, to serve him with all that is in us. And what else could we possibly do? We owe him all and everything. 

Now is the time to serve.

May you have a joyous Easter!

Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. (Philippians 2:9-11)


All Scripture quotations from the ESV.