Be Easter Sunday
in a Good Friday World

by Jeremy Demarest

At the start of this week over two thousand years ago, Jesus rode on the back of a donkey into Jerusalem. And he knew he would be put to death by the powers that be. People lined the streets, waving palms and laying down their garments. They shouted “Hosana!”---which means “Save Us Now!”---in hope that Jesus had come to bring about a new era free from violence and oppression, an era of peace, love, and justice. 

But Jesus knew he was in a Good Friday world. 

A few days later, on the night when Jesus was to be betrayed, Jesus shared a meal with his disciples. It was there that he gave a new commandment: “Love one another, as I have loved you.” Then Jesus took bread and wine and gave himself to us, saying he would not feast again until he did so in the kin-dom of God. 

Because Jesus knew, despite living in a Good Friday World, that Sunday was coming.  

The next day, Jesus was killed and crucified in this Good Friday world.  The powers that be saw the radical love of Jesus and put him to death. But Jesus knew he embodied resurrection, that he was the Easter Sunday, in our Good Friday world. 

Yes, we still live in a Good Friday world. 

But we can have confidence that Sunday will always come.

Indeed, today we celebrate that Sunday is here! Jesus was right, and the powers that be were wrong. 

He is risen, and he is risen indeed! Hallelujah!

So where is Jesus? Not on the cross—an imperial execution could not hold him. Where is Jesus? Not in the tomb—becasue death itself could not hold him. Where is Jesus? 

I’ll tell you: the risen Jesus is loose in the world! 

He is an everlasting Easter Sunday in this Good Friday world. Jesus is with each and every one of us in our struggles with the powers that be and death. And Jesus is empowering us to be Easter Sunday in our Good Friday world. 

Let us live as Jesus taught us, loving one other as he has loved us. Let us go out into the world and make good trouble, as John Lewis encouraged us. Let us go into our Good Friday world and proclaim resurrection. 

And as a good friend and pastor once told me, “Be Easter Sunday in a Good Friday world.”