Thoughts on Easter Found in Unfamiliar Places

As I think about the story of Easter, the events surrounding it and the vast spiritual meaning of it, I can't help but think that my pastor chose an unlikely part of the gospels to emphasize on Easter Sunday. He chose to preach from Matthew 11:25-30, which has nothing to do with Christ's death or resurrection...at first glance. It reads,

"At that time Jesus said, 'I praise you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because you have hidden these things from the wise and learned, and revealed them to little children. Yes, Father, for this was your good pleasure.

'All things have been committed to me by my Father. No one knows the Son except the Father, and no one knows the Father except the Son and those to whom the Son chooses to reveal him.

'Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.' "

As I mentioned earlier, it appears that these verses have nothing to do with Christ's death or resurrection. Not only that, but the three individual paragraphs within this passage seem to have nothing to do with each other. However, I don't think that Jesus, who is the speaker here, was trying to make three separate points. I believe these five verses all have one central message, and that is this: Christ is the entrance and the very essence of the Kingdom of God.

Throughout history, men who have distinguished themselves through formal education in science, literature, philosophy, and art, and who have earned an outstanding reputation by their grand displays of intellect, have always been given the highest status in society. These men maintain an invisible monopoly on knowledge and understanding, and often lord it over those of more common status in society. During Jesus' life, this was true of a Jewish elite called the Pharisees. They believed they owned the rights, if you will, to the knowledge of God and his law. And instead of graciously teaching people who were not as well learned as themselves, they used their knowledge as a cruel divider between themselves and commoners, not allowing any commoner to gain access to their knowledge or be a part of their elite. They saw themselves as the only righteous men of society, and believed that they alone had the true knowledge of God.

However, Jesus teaches differently. He points out a flaw in the Pharisees' righteousness. The Pharisees were proud men who bestowed righteousness on themselves based on their rigorous studies of the law and their own accomplishments. They gave no credit to God for their righteousness, and because of that, Jesus says, they have missed God all together. Righteousness is not something that man can achieve but something that is given as gift by God. And God does not show himself to proud people who only exalt themselves, but rather he shows himself to humble people who admit that they are helpless without God, just like children are helpless without their parents. This is how the first two paragraphs are related. The knowledge of God is a gift that is given by God to people who admit their own helplessness.

So why is man helpless? Who says we are? We are helpless because we are born separated from God. This is the crisis from which all of the world's crises stem from. God's original intent was for us to live our lives forever in connection with him, for he is the very source of our life. But we chose to separate ourselves from him, and as a result we began to create worldwide problems that affect each of us in a physical, emotional, and spiritual way. We cannot fix these problems on our own, nor can we sustain life on our own because of our separation from him. The pain, regret, and death that is caused by this places a heavy burden on our souls. Because of the burden caused by separation from God our souls cannot find rest.

God knows this. He is the only one who can end the separation and give us life again. So that is why Jesus came. That it is why in the third paragraph he says, "Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest." With that he brings together the message, which he gives us in this particular passage. We don't have to live in separation from God anymore. God has come through Christ to give us the gift of life, which is knowing him and being with him eternally. It is not something that we earn through extended studies of the law or by practicing good deeds, but by admitting that we are helpless to sustain our own lives, just like little children.

Through Christ we come to know God, not through our own accomplishments. God shows himself through Christ, not through the teachings of arrogant men. In Christ we find rest for our souls, not by our own righteousness. Through Christ our burdens are lifted, not through our own efforts. In Christ we find life, not in our own understanding. Christ is the entrance and the essence of the Kingdom of God.

So I believe that this passage of scripture is actually very appropriate for Easter. This is why Jesus was crucified and was raised back to life. I believe this message that Jesus gives us in Matthew 11 is the meaning behind the events of Easter.

What do you think?