Easter Makes Rebels of Us All

Following is a meditation upon a theme developed by Orthodox theologian David Bently Hart in his exploration of theodicy, Door of the Sea: Where Was God in the Tsunami? In speaking of the resurrection and its victory over the powers, he writes:

Easter is an act of “rebellion” against all false necessity and all illegitimate
or misused authority, all cruelty and heartless chance. It liberates us
from servitude to and terror before the “elements.” It emancipates us from
fate. It overcomes the “world.” Easter should make rebels of us all.

Reflection

What have you with which to threaten me, what with which to make me cower, what with which to defeat me?

Loss? I count all things as loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them as rubbish, that I may gain Christ and be found in Him, that I may know Him and the power of His resurrection, and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death, if, by any means, I may attain to the resurrection from the dead (excerpts, Phil 8:8-11, NKJV).

Fear? The angel has spoken: “Do not be afraid, for I know that you seek Jesus who was crucified. He is not here; for He is risen” (Mt 28:6). Jesus has spoken, “Peace to you. Why are you troubled? And why do doubts arise in your hearts? Behold My hands and My feet, that it is I Myself” (Lk 24:36, 38).

Pain? Christ has said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore, most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. Therefore, I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in needs, in persecutions, in distresses, for Christ’s sake. For when I am weak, then I am strong (2 Cor 12:9-10).

Lonliness? For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord (Rom 8:38-39). In all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us (Rom 8:37).

Death? Behold, I tell you a mystery: We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed – in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality. So when this corruptible has put on incorruption, and this mortal has put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written: “Death is swallowed up in victory.” Thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.

What have you with which to threaten me, what with which to make me cower, what with which to defeat me? Christ is risen from the dead, trampling down death by death, and on those in the tombs bestowing life. Easter makes rebel of us all.