EASTER 2023

 EASTER SUNDAY - APRIL 9, 2023 - THE SPARK

It happened one cold morning.  I went to my car, put the key in the ignition, and turned it.  Nothing.  Not even a groan, no whir-whir.  

Fortunately, I lived about four blocks from campus, and even though it was minus 10 degrees, I could still make it to my office hour and classes.  I had wanted the car so I could go to a luncheon meeting off campus.  I didn’t have to go to the meeting, but it was something I liked doing (“Coffee with the Coaches”).

I put a scarf around my face and set out at a pretty good clip and was inside Kennedy Center at Dakota State University in five minutes.  I shivered as I got inside.  

And, when I was there, I settled into my routine.  But, later that day, I knew I would call AAA (Triple A or American Automobile Association) and get the car jump started.  And, I was trying to remember when I got a new battery last - it might be time to get a new battery.

*****

I’ve seen it on television - where a person has a cardiac arrest, and the EMTs come with the electric paddles and the lead person yells “Get Back” and the EMT uses a defibrillator to send an electric pulse (or shock) to the heart.  

My gym (the Georgetown Recreation Center) has such a defibrillator (maybe even more than one) near the oval track where I like to walk.  In my research, the National Institute of Health (https://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/defibrillators) says that even untrained volunteers can use defibrillators in case of an emergency.  (Hey - I’m a doctor [Ph.D.] I can do that!!)

*****

On a parallel track, I have wondered about “the Spark” that brought Jesus back to life.  Yes, Jesus died.  It was verified.  The centurion stuck a spear into His side and out flowed blood and water.  

John 19:32-34 says: “So the soldiers came and broke the legs of the first man and then of the other who had been crucified with him.  However, when they came to Jesus and saw that he was already dead, they did not break his legs, but one of the soldiers thrust a lance into his side, and immediately a flow of blood and water came forth”.

One reference says this:

“Crucifixion victims typically had to pull their weight up with their hands or wrists that were nailed to the crossbeam along with pushing up with the feet or ankles that had another nail through them. Over time, the ability to push up to breathe would end and oxygen flow would be restricted. This asphyxiation can also result in the buildup of fluid around the heart.

“The Roman executioners saw that the other two crucifixion victims were still alive and broke their legs so they would no longer be able to push themselves up to breathe, resulting in death within minutes. In the case of Jesus, they saw He had become unconscious and likely was already dead. To confirm, a spear was shoved into His side, likely under His ribs, that ruptured the pericardial sac, resulting in a flow of both blood and water.”

 

*****

So, Jesus was dead. Really dead.  The authorities had his body removed from the cross.  I suppose they had their ladders and would either take off the cross piece (that he carried to the crucifixion site and was nailed to) or pull out (or cut) the nails through His wrist so he would fall to the ground.  

In the Old Testament book of Numbers (chapter 19, verse 11), we see “Whoever touches a person’s dead body will be unclean for seven days.”.  

In the Biblical story, Joseph of Arimathea asked for the body and took it to the tomb (so, even though the Passover was imminent, Joseph was willing to be ceremonially unclean for seven days).  Nicodemus, another of the Jewish leaders, helped Joseph by “bringing with him a mixture of myrrh and aloes weighing about one hundred pounds. They took the body of Jesus and wrapped it with the spices in linen cloths”. Seemingly the tomb was close (one source said about 30 yards).  

The tomb was sealed with a large rock.  This was to keep out animals like rats and mice,  and I suppose carrion birds.  

*****

So, the body (my brain says “the dead body”, but at this point, “body” is enough). Is put in the tomb.  The rock sealed up the entrance.  Seemingly the tomb was rather small (maybe more like a small crypt) - after all, who needs a spacious tomb?  The body isn’t going to entertain guests!!!

*****

So, we get to my point for the day - “The Spark”.  Jesus is dead.  How did he come back to life?  

My answer (and I didn’t see any other comments on “how” He came back to life - other than He did) is that the omnipotent, infinite, all-powerful, all-knowing, all-everything God (he, she, it, the force, Ahh) said - maybe like the version in Genesis - “Let there be life”.  

I picture the Michelangelo painting “The Creation of Adam” from the Sistine Chapel - where the finger of God reaches to create Adam (although I think the spark was from the Word of God - “Let Jesus be alive and resurrected”).

“The Spark” -  the all-powerful spark of God - that created over 8 trillion galaxies, seemingly infinite stars, and planets - brought life back to Jesus.  

Let’s meditate on that further.  We will die - will “The Spark” bring us back to life in something we call ‘heaven’ (or ‘hell’).  And (trying not to get into too much controversy), that “Spark” at our birth (or earlier) infused life into our baby body. 

*****

Have you experienced “The Spark” of God in your life?  Are you open to “The Spark”?  What might it be like?  Will “The Spark” transform you?  

I write:  LOVE WINS and LOVE TRANSFORMS - are you open to being transformed?  Are you already transformed?  Is LOVE the same as “The Spark”? 

Happy Easter

And, yes:

LOVE WINS

LOVE TRANSFORMS

KAREN ANNE WHITE, ©, EASTER 2023, APRIL 9, 2023