Clergy from left, Deacon Cynthia Biddlecomb, retired; Pastor Nicolé Ferry, Assistant Rector Lynn Finnegan and Pastor Deb Church. Courtesy photo

By DEACON CYNTHIA BIDDLECOMB
AKA Cinema Cindy
ELCA

Easter/Pascha: it is a Sunday and a season of the year, when new life and freedom are preached and possibilities are endless. For the Christian, the resurrection of a man named Yeshua/Jesus, after a torturous death by crucifixion 2,000 years ago, is the centerpiece of our faith. More important to us than the day of his birth, celebrated as Christmas (Christ-Mass) each year, is the morning when Jesus rose from the dead. Jesus’ Resurrection is proof for us of the freedom God gives over oppression and hatred, catastrophe and dismay, destruction and death. 

That young rabbi/teacher, Jesus, lived in Roman colonial times in the Levant, growing up on the shores of the Sea of Galilee. Jesus’ innate understanding of Scripture, his deep knowledge of God’s purposes, indicated to folks that he had an inside track to what life was meant to be about. People followed him to listen to his teachings and to see what he was doing. His insights about God inspired many to leave their occupations and support his ministry. That Jesus performed many miracles along the way, freeing people from disease, disability, even death, convinced followers that this was the long promised “Messiah”, the freedom-bringer.

So great was Jesus’ influence among his people, that the powers of Roman oppression, supported by the local religious institutions of the day, arrested that young teacher, tortured him to debase his charismatic influence, as well as his message, and put him to the most agonizing death they could think of, death by crucifixion. This reaction by the powers that be nearly convinced the oppressed that Jesus’ message of freedom and hope was all for naught. Only a handful of Jesus’ closest friends, even, followed his journey to the cross and the tomb. But by hiding from the authorities and avoiding persecution themselves, the others managed to preserve Jesus’ message and the faith in God he exemplified for us. 

The handful that didn’t hide, which included Jesus’ mother Mary, her friends Mary and Salome, Jesus’ one female Disciple, Mary of Magdala, and the young Disciple John, followed Jesus through the streets to the place of his death on the cross. After his death, they wrapped his body for burial and had it taken to a newly carved tomb, offered by a friend. When the Sabbath had ended, the women went to that tomb to anoint the body with oils and spices, as per their tradition. But when they arrived, they saw that the tomb was open, and the body was gone. Mary Magdalene stayed, weeping; she didn’t run in fright. Someone spoke her name, so she turned, and there stood a man she had assumed was a gardener; it was Jesus, her teacher, saying he had not yet ascended. Jesus sent Mary to tell the other disciples that he had risen from the dead and would come to them soon. For 50 days he reappeared to reassure the disciples and instruct them in leading the faithful: this period forms the Easter Season.

What is Jesus’ Easter message for us, then? Death is not the end. Oppression and Hatred are not the last word, despite how impossible things may seem. We can live in the faith that New Life is ours for the taking, a gift from the One who has saved us. No matter how dead-end our life may feel, how stuck we seem to be, new life will always be possible. Even for us. Nothing can keep us from the love God has for us, not even death. You are loved. Be free!

Editor’s note: ‘All Shall Be Well’ is a semi-monthly column written by local women clergy (pastors and deacons) including, ELCA Deacon Cynthia Biddlecomb, M.Div., retired (czoebidd@gmail.com); Nicolé Ferry, Pastor, Bethlehem Evangelical Lutheran Church (pastornicole@bethluth.com); Lynn Finnegan, Assistant Rector, The Episcopal Church of the Holy Faith, Santa Fe (rev.lynn@holyfaithchurchsf.org) and Deb Church, Pastor, White Rock Presbyterian Church (pastor@wrpchurch.com).