By R. Kevin Johnson
Throughout the coming weeks, Christians around the world will continue to celebrate an exciting Easter season and the reality of the risen Christ. The scriptures used for worship and devotion during this time include Jesus’ physical appearance to his disciples following his resurrection. They also emphasize that we do not have to wait for our physical deaths to know resurrection; rather, we are invited to new life in the here and now.
Through Jesus, we sometime-reluctant followers experience the shock of Resurrection from the different forms of death in which we are imprisoned. Like early Christians, we “Easter People” can be transformed by the power of a living God.
Biblical examples in the early church contain characters who knew the power of the Resurrection as they encountered Jesus anew. In the final chapter of the gospel of John, Peter, who denied Christ three times before the Crucifixion, was given the opportunity to declare his love for the Savior three times. “Peter, do you love me?” Jesus asked. “Yes! Yes! Yes!,” was the reply, and the forgiving love of God flowed through the living Christ who said, “Follow me.” With these words, Peter is resurrected into new life through Christ.
In an account recorded in Acts 9, Saul (“breathing threats and murder against the disciples of the Lord”), was on his way to Damascus to destroy the little nest of believers that existed there. Suddenly, he saw a blinding flash of light and heard a voice, the power of which caused the mighty Saul to fall to the ground. Bound with chains of hatred and violence, Saul is invited to new life through the one he sought to persecute. Blinded for three days, he arose on the third day with new life in Christ as an ambassador of love and acceptance. There was a holy name change and Paul was resurrected into new life through Christ.
Ananias was selected by God for an extraordinary mission: to minister to Saul of Tarsus, the most feared terrorist of their times. In order for him to minister to Saul, Ananias had to identify himself as one of the very people Saul was hunting down. Incredulously, he listened as the Lord told him both to seek out and heal Saul — an act that would restore the notorious persecutor to a strong and dangerous state.
Ultimately, Ananias carried out the Lord’s instructions and even addressed his fearful enemy as “Brother Saul” — demonstrating with his words his trust in God’s transformative abilities. Saul was no longer an outsider who was persecuting the church. Instead he was Paul, a true brother in Christ. Ananias knew that the Holy Spirit, God’s presence among us, was the source of the healing.
Ananias, God’s instrument of cleansing for Paul, also received liberty from the fear that imprisoned him and almost prevented him from ministering to one who most needed his healing touch. In Christ, Paul and Ananias were able to come together as brothers and Ananias recognized the power of resurrection into new life through Christ.
I am familiar with many contemporary Easter People who recognize the power of Resurrection through new life in Christ — I’m sure you are, too. Most of them cannot tell such dramatic stories about their conversion experience as Paul. Neither can they say that they have met the physical Christ face to face. However, they can say that, like Peter, they were given a second chance and that, through faith, they choose to live as Christians and look forward to a physical meeting with Christ when he comes again.
The witness of Easter People throughout the ages invites us all to life through Christ. That Resurrection Perspective gives eternal hope to every generation and calls each of us to a joyful Eastertide.