Pratt: Jesus lives still in the hearts of believers

Bonus time to sit and contemplate life, a gift to treasure in the midst of chaos and corruption filtering throughout this noisy world.

For good or evil, the technology of our day is here to stay as we find more and more ways to either restore or destroy each other in unique ways.

My thoughts turn to a Friday some 2,000 years ago, when an innocent young man hung on a Roman cross between two criminals. What crime had he committed that caused a cautious, but somewhat bemused Roman appointed ruler to allow the Temple’s religious authorities, to demand a death sentence?

The beaten and bruised captive claims to be sent by God to heal all people – to right the wrongs committed by mankind one against the other. He is a danger to Rome, they argue, because he rode into town on a donkey, claiming to be a king. But the common people cheered him on.

The rulers feared his astounding success with the common people. Even a few of the higher class were attracted to the itinerant preacher called Jesus. His ability to heal, included raising people from death.

Lazarus was a close friend of Jesus. His sisters sent word that their brother was very ill. Jesus arrived three days too late. The odor of death was strong from the tomb. But when Jesus called, “Lazarus, come forth,” family, friends andmourners were astounded to see him walk out in full view, restored to life.

This man Jesus represented great danger to the way things were supposed to be. He called high-ranking people out for their hypocrisy as they gathered stones to execute a woman for prostitution, while excusing their own roles in her profession.

But the power that frightened them most was seeing Lazarus, a well-known, once-dead man walking in good health among his family and friends after Jesus called him to rise from the grave. That kind of power demonstrated by Jesus must be stopped.

On a Friday they crucified him and shut his body away in an impenetrable stone tomb, with guards to assure no one would have access. Rumors were that he would arise from the grave, so every precaution was taken to secure his tortured body by the authorities.

Centuries later, around the globe, we discover Jesus lives still in the hearts of believers who gather to celebrate the anniversary of his resurrection.

Folk tales of Easter bunnies aside, this week of remembrance concludes in a joyous Easter welcoming of the living Savior who will one day right all wrongs. God’s promises of eternal forgiveness comes to fruition for all who accept the sacrificial life and gifts of grace Jesus enabled for humanity in the cosmic defeat of Satan and his army of rebel angels.

At Easter, Christians celebrate the gift of eternal life through the sacrificial suffering of God himself in order to preserve humanity in an heavenly environment of perfect love, companionship and worship.

Beth Pratt retired as religion editor from the Avalanche-Journal after 25 years. You can email her at beth.pratt@cheerful.com.

This article originally appeared on Lubbock Avalanche-Journal: Pratt: Jesus lives still in the hearts of believers