Dear Friends in Christ,
Ever since last year’s Easter message from President Trump which featured traditional holiday greetings along with inaccurate, arrogant Christian Nationalist expressions and sharp political attacks on perceived enemies, I’ve found myself wondering what Easter message he might issue this year. How about you?

If I were President, my message would have been different because I think Easter is a day for highlighting the miraculous range and power of divine love! But, what about you? If you were President, what would your Easter message to our nation be?

Regardless of what your Easter message – or mine – might be, I really wonder: If Jesus issued an Easter message, what would it be?

We find clues in what the Gospel authors have left us in their stories about the Risen Christ. For instance, John reports Jesus asking Mary outside his tomb: “Why are you crying?” (John 20:16). There, Jesus exhibited deep empathy and his Easter expression was filled with loving concern. Matthew reports Jesus saying to the women who arrived early at the tomb: “Do not be afraid.” (Matthew 28:10) He didn’t want them to feel anxious or frightened, and his Easter expression was filled with loving concern. Finally, Luke reports Jesus’ saying to followers who were cowering in a locked, upper room, “Peace be with you.” (Luke 24:36) He didn’t want them to harbor unsettled, terrorized hearts and his Easter expression was, again, filled with loving concern.

The gospels go on and on like this after Jesus’ resurrection to the point where Matthew reports Jesus saying, “I will be with you always until the end of the age.” (Matthew 28:20)

From these examples, we see, Jesus was experienced aby his followers one with Easter expression full of empathy, compassion, and a faithful, everlasting loving hope for peace and wellbeing for all people. Would that all of our Easter expressions – including that of the President – be the same!

Blessings of Holy Week’s Journey to Jesus’ Tomb – and Beyond,
Pastor Ed