When looking for proof of the resurrection, people often dig through historical writings to find physical evidence for the empty tomb; others look to the faith and courage of the earliest Christians who gave their lives for something that they truly believed in. Another approach is to look at the evidence that has been produced from the resurrection, like this piece that was published in the New York Times this weekend. The author, Tish Harrison Warren, points to the ongoing proof of the resurrection in the lives of His people:
Easter, here, is a verb. It is not only an event but it’s something that happens to us and in us. This poem and prayer asks that Jesus transform our lives, that he rise not just in a tomb but in us as well, that the piercing light of the Resurrection fall on the darkness in our cramped selves.
While all of these proofs work together to form the evidence, it is this last one that I find myself drawn to. I can not go back to the first century to verify the claims, so I have to trust the witnesses and early Christians who gave their lives believing what they experienced. This final proof: lives changed by the continual raising of those dead to sin, I can vouch for. I am one of those who has gone from spiritual death to life.
I also get to experience the proof of the resurrection in the lives changed around me. Being part of the church gives me a chance to see God’s work in other people. While this work, and these changes, are there all of the time, they are more evident on occasion. For me, this evidence shone brightly this weekend through the gifts of service from those in our church. All in all, between Good Friday and Easter, there are 50+ people who gave time and energy so that we could celebrate the resurrection of Jesus together. These included:
- The person who cleans the church during the week
- The landscaping team that keep our property looking great
- The musicians who shared their gifts (I loved the difference between the reflective service Friday and the celebratory service Sunday)
- The readers who voiced our Good Friday service
- The AV team who makes sure our sound and slides are taken care of every week
- Those who made cinnamon rolls (including the diet specific ones so that all could take part)
- All of the coffee makers (both for drip and on the machine)
- Communionkid’s volunteers who make sure our kids are not only loved, but taught the Word
- Our kid’s leads who made the jelly bean gospel gifts (and went out of there way to make sure the kids with food coloring issues had a gummy bear version)
- All of the prep that went into the kid’s choir
- Communion set up
- The IT guy who came in to make our printer communicate again
The only problem about making a list like this is that I know I am missing people. The point remains: we see the ripple effects of the resurrection in this group of people giving of themselves for others to worship a LIVING Christ. In the church family, we have this eclectic group of people bringing their variety together to create a beautiful mesh.
Another way this is manifested is in congregational singing. When we join together in song, we bring what we have to be part of one voice that sings praise to our Lord. While not all of us are great singers, we have different ranges, there is something amazing in the sound that is produced when people worship in unison. I leave you with this video, taken at our Good Friday service, which is one more piece of evidence that the tomb is empty: