Worrying about the Dead Guy (Bad Easter Part VII)

Last updated on: April 4, 2015 at 12:37 pm by John Mark N. Reynolds

Worrying about the Dead Guy (Bad Easter Part VII) 2015-04-04T12:37:59-04:00 John Mark N. Reynolds

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

Jesus was dead: to begin with. There is no doubt whatever about that. The guarantee of his death was the brutality of the Romans, the Sanhedrin, the Sadducees, and the chief leaders. Pilate did it: and Pilate was good at crucifixion, something he often chose to put his hand to.

Jesus was dead and his own religious group, the Pharisees, were still worried about Him. They feared the legend would be greater than the sinless man. They need not have worried but they did.

The historical record says:

The next day, that is, after the day of Preparation, the chief priests and the Pharisees gathered before Pilate and said, “Sir, we remember what that imposter said while he was still alive, ‘After three days I will rise again.’ Therefore, command the tomb to be made secure until the third day; otherwise his disciples may go and steal him away, and tell the people, ‘He has been raised from the dead,’ and the last deception would be worse than the first.” Pilate said to them, “You have a guard of soldiers; go, make it as secure as you can.” So they went with the guard and made the tomb secure by sealing the stone.

The religious hypocrites were worried about the disciples, but not murder. So it goes. Grifters and frauds always attribute their own motives and the evil deeds they would have done to the opposition. Jesus’ students were hidden, fearful, and ashamed. They were not about to execute any plans, graft, or tricks. The one student of Jesus who might have done so had already killed himself in a field bought with the money he received for betraying Jesus.

A brave Jewish leader came to bury Him and His mother held his corpse and knew pain as fierce as if a sword pierced her heart.

Jesus was dead and His tomb was sealed and guarded by men who feared the dead man more than Rome. This fear is absurd. Why fear a dead man?

And then I realize that once committed to hate, fear comes right behind. Haters are fearful and tyrants, as Plato demonstrates in Republic IX, are the most fearful of all men. Hate knows that love cannot be stopped. Love will find a way and so hate tries to close up all the holes that love might use. This never works because love moves the entire cosmos. Siding with hate is siding against the proper order of things and so haters cannot plug all the gaps.

Love can make their very plots and plans turn against them. Love takes a crucifixion and turns it into a sacred and loving moment. Jesus forgives His enemies from the Cross. Jesus thinks of the care of His mother from the Cross. Jesus loves His own from the Cross. Love kept finding a way until all was finished. Hate was finished, but hate did not yet know this truth. Hate hoped to find a way to keep Jesus dead.

Lord God, I do this when I hate, when I refuse to forgive those who have harmed me, when I sit muttering about the unfairness of love. Love finds a way into my heart and the hate there fears love because hate and love cannot coexist. If I embrace, even for a moment, forgiveness and mercy, then forgiveness, the mightiest sword, will kill the hate. Hate knows this is true. Hate tries to keep love out of the tomb where hate has placed me. Hate counts on the fact that the spiritually dead will stay dead and guards the stronghold of darkness with all the might of tyrants.

Jesus was dead: to begin with, but the beginning would not be the end.

Spiritual Reflections

Previous Post

April 3, 2015

Selling Jesus for Money (Bad Easter Part VI)

Next Post

April 5, 2015 He is Risen Anyway (Bad Easter becomes Good Easter)

Browse Our Archives

Select a Category Apologetics Art Culture Education On Books On Education Philosophy Politics Pop Culture Spiritual Reflections Uncategorized

Select a Month October 2026 September 2026 August 2026 July 2026 July 2025 June 2025 September 2024 July 2024 June 2024 December 2023 June 2023 September 2022 May 2022 April 2022 March 2022 February 2022 July 2021 June 2021 May 2021 April 2021 March 2021 February 2021 January 2021 December 2020 November 2020 October 2020 September 2020 August 2020 July 2020 June 2020 May 2020 April 2020 March 2020 February 2020 January 2020 December 2019 November 2019 October 2019 September 2019 August 2019 July 2019 June 2019 May 2019 April 2019 March 2019 February 2019 January 2019 December 2018 November 2018 October 2018 September 2018 August 2018 July 2018 June 2018 May 2018 April 2018 March 2018 February 2018 January 2018 December 2017 November 2017 October 2017 September 2017 August 2017 July 2017 June 2017 May 2017 April 2017 March 2017 February 2017 January 2017 December 2016 November 2016 October 2016 September 2016 August 2016 July 2016 June 2016 May 2016 April 2016 March 2016 February 2016 January 2016 December 2015 November 2015 October 2015 September 2015 August 2015 July 2015 June 2015 May 2015 April 2015 March 2015 February 2015 January 2015 November 2014 October 2014 September 2014 August 2014 July 2014 June 2014 May 2014 April 2014 March 2014 February 2014 January 2014 December 2013 November 2013 October 2013 September 2013 August 2013 July 2013 June 2013 May 2013 April 2013 March 2013 February 2013 January 2013 December 2012 November 2012 October 2012 September 2012 August 2012 July 2012 June 2012 May 2012

TAKE THE

Religious Wisdom Quiz

True or False: In Matthew, Jesus sent out the twelve apostles with instructions to take a staff and sandals for their journey.

Select your answer to see how you score.

TRUE FALSE

Books by This Author John Mark Reynolds

See All Titles »