Family

This morning at sunrise service, Pastor shared an insight I had never seen. In the Gospel according to John, when Mary is weeping at the tomb, Jesus acknowledges that the relationship between He and his disciples, between God the Father and those who follow Jesus, had changed. Prior to the crucifixion, Peter, James, John, and the rest of the motley crew were known as apostles, disciples, servants, and friends. That early Sunday morning in a garden, the paradigm had shifted. Because of the resurrection, the world had changed. In John 20:17 He says to Mary "Go instead to my brothers and tell them, ‘I am ascending to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God.’” No longer merely friends, but brothers. No longer just his Father, but their Father.

The resurrection fundamentally changed everything. In the first garden so many years ago, humanity broke the bond and left the family of God. In another garden 2,000 years ago, Jesus began the process of making all things new. With the resurrection He opened the door for humanity to come home. He is the door, He is the life. This Easter I am reminded that Easter is more than a story. It is the hinge on which all of creation swings. It is the moment where God did for us what we could never do ourselves. At its most basic, it is an invitation to come home. Won't you come home today?

He is risen!