Today, on Easter Sunday, we celebrate the resurrection of
Jesus Christ, we celebrate a renewal of what once seemed lost. The loss of a
Healer; a Teacher; a Comforter; a Guide; an Example; a Friend; and most
importantly, a Savior. The literal view of Jesus’ resurrection brings His
physical form back to life, and with it, the promise that all will likewise be
resurrected. I believe there is more, much more than “only” a literal view of
the resurrection; a view that has application over and over again in our lives.
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| I don't consider myself an artist, but I will claim my efforts, and the experience of writing and drawing this piece. |
Resurrection, as stated in one definition as a “restoration
to life”, is preceded by a “dying”, if you will; a “falling away”, or a
“letting go” of something. However, until the resurrection, the death of Jesus
seemed permanent; it was not just a “falling away”, or a “letting go” of something;
it seemed as an ending. An ending, even after Jesus told His disciples “[I]
must go unto Jerusalem, and suffer many things of the elders and chief priests
and scribes, and be killed, and be raised again the third day.” (Matthew 16:21)
We see in verse 22 that, at least Peter did not understand Jesus’ words. “Then
Peter took him, and began to rebuke him, saying, Be it far from thee, Lord:
this shall not be unto thee.” Jesus responds to Peter “Get thee behind me, Satan:
thou art an offence unto me: for thou savourest not the things that be of God,
but those that be of men.” I do not consider myself a scripture scholar, but
what I see here is Jesus perhaps speaking to the same part in Peter that He was
speaking to in His disciples after having fed the multitude of four thousand
with seven loaves of bread, and having but one loaf of bread with them in the
ship. Jesus says to His disciples “Why reason ye, because ye have no bread?
Perceive ye not yet, neither understand? Have ye your heart yet hardened?
Having eyes, see ye not? And having ears, hear ye not? And do ye not remember?
When I brake the five loaves among the five thousand, how many baskets full of
fragments took ye up? And they said seven.” (Mark 8:17-20) Could it be that Jesus
was not speaking to Peter, but to Peter’s “of men” understanding? Both Peter,
and the disciples…and us, have something in common? Could it be that we see
only with our physical eyes…our “of men” eyes, having eyes, yet see not, and
ears, yet hear not…and have we forgotten? Or have we honestly and innocently while
here in mortality never truly understood? Could it be that we “savourest not
the things that be of God, but those that be of men”, like Peter? Could it be
that we have forgotten the “things of God” that be within us…each of us…all of
us…as one body.
Most understand the concept of Jesus’ physical resurrection.
His physical body was brought back to life. Could it be that the physical
resurrection is a surface view of resurrection? Jesus’ body was brought back to
life…not just again, but anew, never to again experience death. Something
indeed “fell away”, or was “let go” in order for Him to return as an eternal physical
being. Could it be that there were aspects of His being that no longer served
His purpose, or that no longer represented His deepest, truest self? Something
that held Him back from His next step in progression. What if, in those three
days-time between crucifixion and resurrection that not only were there aspects
of His earthly being that “fell away”, but that other aspects of His eternal
physical being were brought into His presence. Perhaps eternal truth, perhaps
eternal light, perhaps eternal love.
Could Jesus’ resurrection signify more for each one of us in
our own personal lives, much more than His physical form being brought back to
life, and our own physical resurrection someday? Not to diminish His
resurrection in any degree, but to add to the meaning and application of how
Jesus’ resurrection can have a present affect in our own lives now, today, and
every day.
Could I, and each of us if we choose, look to identify
aspects of our own selves that no longer serve the higher purpose of our being?
Could there be aspects of who we think we are, or are not, that hold us back?
That hide who we truly are on the deepest, truest level, that if “let go” or if
we allow to “fall away”, would bring out more of the eternal beauty that lies
just underneath? We need not go looking for it outside of ourselves in other
people, or in things with our physical eyes, ears, and logic…for it is found
within; it is found with the eyes of the heart; the ears of the heart; knowing
that Self, that YOU, and YOU, and YOU, and each person…EVERY person, is made of
divinity. When we begin to “let go” of that which is not divine within
ourselves…the “of men” aspects, we begin to see the divinity that has been
there all along; glorious, light, love, and truth. We begin to see past others
non-divinity and “of men”ness to the divinity within them as well. Compassion
comes, light comes, love for neighbors come. Patience comes. Gentleness comes.
Not only do these come as outward expressions towards others, but inward expressions
toward self. There is a lot of talk of self-esteem and self-confidence. Imagine
having more self-compassion, more self-patience, more self-kindness, more
self-forgiving, and more self-love. This “Self” aspect does not truly originate
from within our selves, but from God, the Divine, the grand Self, The I AM; the
Giver of Self to each of us. This Self has no beginning and no end, therefore
there is no end to compassion, kindness, patience, forgiveness, and love that
can be experienced both inward to self, and outward toward others.
Could we, during this day of resurrection and renew, look
for the “of men”ness in ourselves, that once recognized, can fall away. Or
could we find an “of men” aspect in ourselves that we can just let go of? As we
do, we renew…we uncover a bit more of the divinity within…we allow a
resurrection of the divinity to take place within us that has been in darkness
for days, likely more than three.
I think it is appropriate that resurrection, and renewal are
associated with Spring-time. A falling away of the old, a time of rest; then
with Spring, all things are again made new, including you. This not only
happens with the change in seasons, but daily. We arise each day
renewed…another day, another start, a fresh start. Could a deepest and truest
self-resurrection of sorts occur at any moment? To this I say…It could.
