Not seeing what is in front of our eyes...

Today is Easter in Russia. Due to the fact that the Eastern Orthodox churches use a different calendar to calculate their holidays, most often we do not celebrate religious holidays at the same time as most of the rest of the world. This does have its advantages though. For one, we get to celebrate twice...once with our traditions and once with theirs. But I think even more importantly it usually brings me back to familiar scripture passages more than one time a year. And each time I read them I gain new insight.

Since our first trip to Russia more than a year ago I have been struck with a singular thought and lingering question...how can a people be surrounded with the truth and not see what is before their eyes? This morning I re-read the Easter accounts in all four Gospels - a practice I have held on Easter morning since I was a teenager. So, you would expect that it would be difficult to see anything new. However, it seems that each time I read these passages I see something that I have never really seen before.

Russia is not what we would classify as a "heathen" nation. In fact, Christianity has been a part of Russia for centuries. Almost everywhere you look you can see at least one brightly-colored onion-shaped dome capped with a cross marking a Russian Orthodox church or cathedral. There are even several within the Kremlin walls. And, much like in America, Russians are surrounded by the symbolism of Christianity. Religious holidays are celebrated by nearly everyone in the country - believers and non-believers alike. And most know the religious stories tied with the holiday. How is it then that a nation who knows the stories of Christ can not see the the truth locked in the stories and traditions? This question has bothered me for the better part of a year...not just for Russia, but for my home country as well.

Yet this morning as I was reading it hit me. The Jews of Jesus day were not really any different than we are today. The answer to my question is this...it is because most people are not seeking answers from what is placed clearly before them.

Let's take a quick look at the scriptures to see what I am talking about. First, the women who came to the tomb were not looking for the resurrected Jesus. They were coming to mourn. They were not looking for an empty tomb. When Peter and John went back to the tomb, were they looking for a risen Jesus? No. The men on the road to Emmaus were not expecting to be walking down the road or sharing a meal with a man they had watched be crucified just days before. Even after he explained the scriptures about himself to them they did not really understand what was plainly in front of them until he allowed himself to be revealed to them. And when Jesus appeared before all the disciples in the upper room he proceeded to give them a lesson in the scriptures so they could understand how the teachings of Moses, all the prophets pointed to Him.

You see, the Jews of Jesus' time were surrounded by a religious culture. One with religious holidays and festivals and customs. And, just like us, they were blind to the real meaning and significance of those holidays. This is not a new phenomenon. I imagine that the priests of Jesus day had to remind the people that their was deep, significant meaning behind the ceremonies and customs that surrounded the High Holy Days. (Who knows, maybe they even had bumper stickers made for the back of their ox carts that read "Moses is the reason for the season.")

So what can we take from this blindness to things that seem so obvious to us as believers? First, I think it is important that we not assume that just because we are surrounded by the truth that everyone understands that significance. Secondly, I think we must remember that it is not their fault that they do not recognize that truth. And thirdly, and most importantly, I think that we need to remember that none of the people in the Biblical accounts of Easter came to the realization of Jesus' resurrection on their own. In every account, Jesus had to open their eyes. And, in many cases, he used the scriptures, holidays, and customs to teach them that all of these things that they were familiar with all pointed to Him.

I think it also important to remember the response to His teaching. The men on the road to Emmaus returned to Jerusalem saying, "It's really happened! The Master has been raised up!" Mary Magdalene called him "Rabboni" and clung to him and wept. And Thomas fell to his knees and proclaimed, "My Lord and my God!" You see, revelation of the scriptures and the true nature of Jesus as the Christ comes only after He opens our eyes.

Our responsibility, no matter where in the world you are when you read this, is to help those around us understand how the holidays, traditions, and most importantly the scriptures point to Jesus. To explain to them how and why God came to earth to live a sinless life among us and how he chose to sacrifice Himself to save us from our sins. And, to remind our family, friends and neighbors that the tomb of the man know as Jesus remains empty to this day. We are to tell them that having a relationship with the living God is more than ritual and religion. It is our responsibility to share that true Christianity comes from asking Jesus to forgive us of our sins and inviting Him to live in our hearts.

We cannot open the eyes of those around us. Only God can do that. But we have the responsibility to tell others what we know to be true. All of creation and history points to Him...Jesus, who is the Christ and who is risen!

христос воскрес! (Christos Vos-kress! He is Risen!)
воистину воскрес! (Va-east-a-new Vos-kress! Truly He is Risen!)

Blessings on this Easter morning,
Marc