Friends, let me share a favorite story about a community-wide Easter pageant.
In this particular community, various people in the town were assigned, or recruited, or, volunteered to play the different characters in the Easter story. The character of Jesus went to a most unlikely person -- a big, burly, bar room brawler -- an oilfield worker. To say the least, he was the most unlikely person to be typecast as our Lord.
After several weeks of rehearsals, the day of the Easter Pageant arrived. When they came to the part of the play where Jesus was being led away to be crucified, one little man, who was part of the crowd, got caught up in the emotion of the drama. With great energy he joined in the shouts of “Crucify him! Crucify him!” as Jesus was led away toward Calvary.
Then, in the midst of shouting insults at the top of his lungs, he accidentally sprayed some spit in the face of the character playing Jesus, just as “Jesus” walked by carrying the cross on his back. The oilfield worker stopped in his tracks, reached up and wiped his face dry. Then he looked at the little man and boldly said: “I’ll be back to take care of you after the resurrection!”
Right on! That’s the truth of the resurrection: God raised Jesus from the dead, and Jesus by his Spirit comes back “to take care of us.” Not in the sense that he will settle old scores, or take a round out of us, or be our “holy bouncer,” but in the sense that He will be present to us with the love and compassion and mercy of God. As a companion in life, he will bless and befriend us with healing and encouragement. He did come back to take care of us!
Sunday we have the joy of celebrating the resurrection of Christ. We can share worship with joy and hope.

Grace and peace to all as we lean into the Resurrection,
- Reverend Jim Cairney