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As Easter Sunday approaches, our churches look forward to honoring the Lord Jesus Christ and celebrating His resurrection. Some will do so with a large cantata, others with a humble sunrise service, and yet others have traditions unique to their own congregation.
Whatever your church does to celebrate the resurrection of Jesus, it’s safe to say that no words can do justice to the events surrounding His death and resurrection. So, instead of using words let’s think of it in different terms. Let’s think of it in terms of the sounds we might have heard had we been alive in those days.
Can you hear the rooster crow, as one of Jesus’s closest friends and followers denies he even knows Him for the third time?
Can you hear the mob screaming with hate and murder in their heart, “Crucify Him!” as Jesus stands before Pilate?
Can you hear the splash of water in a bowl, as Pilate feebly attempts to wash his hands of guilt for allowing the spotless Lamb to be crucified as a common criminal?
Can you hear the crack of the reed crashing over Jesus’s head, and the sickening “thwack” of the cat of nine tails ripping into His flesh?
Can you hear the women weeping as they follow Jesus to Golgotha, Simon bearing the weight of His cross?
Can you hear the rattle of the dice as Roman soldiers huddle near the cross, yelling excitedly, playing a game to see who will win His robe, even while He suffers?
Can you hear the clatter of coins as Judas throws them in disgust on the floor of the temple? Blood money. The Son of God betrayed for thirty pieces of silver.
Can you hear Jesus’s breathing become increasingly labored as the weight of his body caves in on His lungs?
Oh, but listen carefully once more. Can you hear the cry of victory? – Jesus displaying strength beyond that of a mere mortal, crying out with His last breath “It is finished!” Dying with the cry of victory and fulfillment on His lips!
Can you hear the rip of the temple veil being torn in two, signifying the end of the Old Testament priesthood, and the beginning of a new and better covenant?
Can you hear the best sound of all? (The whole reason we celebrate Easter Sunday!) Can you hear the thud of the stone being rolled away? Praise God!
“For I delivered to you first of all that which I also received: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, and that He was buried, and that He rose again the third day according to the Scripture, and that He was seen by Cephas, then by the twelve.” 1 Cor 15:3-5 (NKJV)
“He who has an ear, let him hear…” Rev 2:7 (NKJV)
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