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Nothing Compares to Easter

            The number of world records set in Olympic events has decreased dramatically in the last two decades. The National Institute of Sport and Physical Education in Paris summarized a recent study suggesting that in some events athletes have reached the peak of physical performance. World records were being set steadily in through the last century, but began to slow in the 90’s and now world records in many events aren’t even being threatened and, according to the institute, never will be. I don’t believe it. Exceptional athletes, genetic alterations, and development in sports science will continue to improve athletes. So don’t say nothing compares. That’s like saying that nothing compares to your grandma’s potato salad – that’s a compliment to your grandma but actually you can’t claim that unless you’ve tasted every potato salad in the world. Saying that nothing compares, or will ever compare, is risky business. With one exception. Nothing Compares to Easter. The Bible speaks about Easter in superlatives like “of first importance” and contrasts any life without it in diminutives like, “Otherwise, you have believed for nothing.” In other words, Easter is God at his best reaching his peak performance. Maybe you don’t believe that, or maybe you do believe it is true but has little to do with your life right now. The words of one man who experienced the effects of Easter and wrote about it in 1 Corinthians 15 can change that. Nothing compares to Easter’s gospel and Easter’s grace.

The best gospel for the worst being

            In “Daily Affirmation with Stuart Smalley” Saturday Night Live’s Al Franken used to portray a nurturing self-help therapist. He hosted a talk show and began each show sitting on the couch, looking into the mirror, and assuring himself, “I’m going to do a terrific show today, and I’m gonna help people, because I’m good enough, I’m smart enough, and … people like me.” Stuart Smalley believed those words but they really didn’t help him. Some of the Christians in Corinth felt the same way about the resurrection of Jesus Christ. They believed it happened but didn’t see it helping them. They preferred the affirming wisdom of Greek intellect. The apostle Paul counters their reliance on worldly wisdom, which he previously said “comes to nothing” (1 Corinthians 2:6)and argues that philosophy and self-help don’t save a person in the least.

            Unlike Stuart Smalley, Paul admits that his own self-worth is zero, as “one abnormally born,” using a Greek word that refers to lifeless afterbirth. On our own we humans are piles of dirt like our father Adam. Lifeless clods needing the breath of God. Human philosophy can make us feel good but doesn’t make us good; relying on it to do so means we “have believed for nothing.” What hope is there for us when we realize we are nothing? “Christ died for our sins … was buried … [and] has been raised.” This gospel is not wisdom to be attained or worth to be affirmed but historical, documented, real events that took place and still make a difference. Like looking at a photo album of your life and realizing all the events in your past that shape who you are today. “By this gospel you are being saved,” Paul writes, referring to these works of Jesus Christ as the best gospel constantly saving the worst beings. They happened, Paul guarantees, and now their results continue to impact our lives, “Assuming you hold firmly to the word I preached to you.” Nothing Compares to Easter. Hold firmly to the word that preaches it. It will change your life in two ways.

            Easter is the best gospel for those who lifelessly lie dead in a grave. The bodies of those who die in faith have only “fallen asleep” and will wake again at the final resurrection on Judgment Day. Easter is the best gospel for those whose sins keep us from living life as fully as God intends for us. Not only will we one day be raised to eternal life, but daily we are being raised to an unlimited life. “I can do everything through him who gives me strength” because Christ rose from the grave (Philippians 4:13). Nothing Compares to Easter.

            The Bible presents the resurrection of Jesus not as daily affirmation or a system of arguments arranged for undeniable truth, but instead as an event that changes people. Jesus shows and comforts a weeping woman, convinces doubting disciples, walks with two men on a dusty road, and watches a few fishermen working on a lake. “He appeared,” to people where they were at and transformed worthless nobodies into courageous, faith-filled martyrs. This is the most convincing evidence of the resurrection. It wasn’t a belief that grew up within the church, but is the belief around which the church itself grew up. A belief “on which you have taken your stand.” Take your stand on Easter and you will grow up every day into a fuller life.

The best grace for the worst behaving

A woman walking through a neighborhood saw a frail, worn old man rocking contently in a chair on his porch. She called out to him as she passed by, “Hello there! I couldn’t help but notice how happy you look. Tell me,” she said, “what’s your secret for a long happy life?”

            “I smoke three packs of cigarettes a day, eat nothing but fast food, and never, ever do any exercise.”

            “Amazing!” said the woman, “That must make you really happy! And just how old are you?” she asked.

            “Twenty-six,” he replied. That’s bad behaving. Here’s worse behaving. “I am the least of the apostles and do not even deserve to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God.” Paul formerly persecuted Christians. Hunting down the most dangerous game, his pursuit against God turned on him when he became the prey. The risen Christ appeared to him on the road to Damascus and captured him by grace to save him from his worst behaving and for a new life. “By the grace of God I am what I am,” Paul rejoices as he reflects on Christ’s resurrection that at his conversion became his personal resurrection to a new life, a new identity, a new calling and purpose. Paul never got over the thrill of being captured by the risen Christ. “And his grace to me was not without effect. No, I worked harder that all of [the other apostles] – yet not I, but the grace of God that was with me.” Easter is the best grace of God because of its powerful effect on believers. God’s grace unites us with Christ in our baptism so that we rise with him to new life, done with sin, Satan defeated, death deactivated. And we rise from the sins of our worst behaving to a new identity, a new calling and purpose. The Bible promises, “United with [Christ] in his resurrection … we will also live with him. For we know that since Christ was raised from the dead, he cannot die again; death no longer has mastery over him. The death he died, he died to sin one for all; but the life he lives, he lives to God. In the same way count yourselves dead to sin but alive to God in Christ Jesus … for you are … under grace” (Romans 6:6-10,14). Nothing Compares to Easter when it comes to reforming our behavior so that we live to God.

            Eleven days ago at 3 a.m. I lay in the ER hooked up to an EKG monitor. Thankfully I wasn’t having a heart attack, and it turned out that the pain was due to blockage in my lower esophagus. Basically, I had scarfed down my steak and pasta too quickly the evening before and it all jammed in my esophagus before it could enter my stomach. The GI team was called. I felt ashamed. Why should they get called out bed and disrupt their morning routine for a guy who behaved badly? But they came, three of them, to help me even though I didn’t deserve it. They came, they kindly asked questions, and they expertly performed a successful procedure. That’s what they do in the ER. They help people who often behave badly. They don’t ask moral questions or adjust their effort based on behavior. That’s grace, and when you’ve experienced it nothing compares. I now chew my food 32 times, not only for personal health, but as a gesture of appreciation for the ER staff and GI team. They helped me and I want to show them I take that seriously, and won’t be back other than to say thank you. Living biblically as followers of Jesus is our gesture of appreciation for God showing us grace. He saved us and we want to show him that we take that seriously, and we will not return to sinning because Christ has raised us. We are people of the resurrection, and “the grace of God [is] with [us].” Easter can change our behavior.

            Forty two years ago on April 4, 1968 Martin Luther King, Jr. was shot and killed. His death, a one time act of violence, has sparked civil reforms that still shape our society because of what he accomplished during his life. On Easter Jesus rose triumphantly to life, a one time act of victory that sparked spiritual reforms still shaping our lives because of what he accomplished when he died. These historical events are done, yet continue. They live on and change our lives. As great of a reformer as he was, Martin Luther King, Jr. died and cannot come back and do any more. As the greatest of all and the only Savior, Jesus Christ died and did come back. And so do we! Nothing Compares to Easter. Amen.

Preached at Grace Lutheran Church, Milwaukee, WI (www.gracedowntown.org) on April 4, 2010

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Grace Evangelical Lutheran Church | 1209 North Broadway Milwaukee, WI 53202 | (414) 271-3006

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