Buddha, Christ and Easter Morning

I once had the opportunity to visit a small Buddhist temple in central CA where they were having quite the to-do....a small relic of Sidartha (Buddha) was on display...a finger joint if I recall. We went, for I have a deep fondness for the Buddhist people I know and if I were not a Christian, I would be either Jewish in faith, or Buddhist. I took my sandals off and went with the Abbot to where the relic was and observed it...a small bone in a glass and gold box, surrounded by flowers.

It was interesting. Not emotionally moving or inspiring, but interesting. A historical relic from a man who did change world history. Sidartha taught many things similar to teachings of Christianity, to care for the elderly and the orphan, to forgive others, to not place value on the things of this world. He taught many good and noble things, and I feel, as far as a man or woman may be good, he was a good man.

This week is a holy week for Christians....this week commemorates Jesus Christ's ride into Jerusalem, where He knew He would face death but a few days later. He gave some of His greatest lessons this week, threw out corrupt sellers and moneychangers out of the temple (wouldn't we love to throw those who make money off of religion out of our churches today?), ate a last meal with His disciples. He prayed in a garden on Thursday (which is why we recognize Thursday of Holy Week as important, the last supper and an agonizing prayer in the garden) that this cup, this upcoming horrible death would be lifted from Him, yet He accepted God's plan and went through with it. He was betrayed by one of His own followers, arrested, tried- and on Friday morning tortured and crucified. He was buried on Friday, quickly so as not to defile the biggest Sabbath of the Jewish year- Passover, and rose on Sunday morning.

If you like, I can give you a run down on evidence and proof the Resurrection happened. Of Roman guards paid to watch the tomb that fell asleep and an impossible stone rolled away without them waking. Of Jewish leaders embarrassment that there was no body to be found- and if there had been you can believe they would have showed it to the world. Of disciples hiding in fear that upon seeing the risen Christ turned bold and proclaimed the Word, going even to death for this truth- and what man will willingly die for a lie? Of hundreds of witnesses, of writings in early scrolls- even from non Christians who wrote of the Risen Jesus of Nazareth.

The empty tomb. No body. Therein lies the difference between Christ and all others. I saw the bones of Sidartha in that small glass box. There is no relic of Christ to share, no bone to peer at curiously, to remark casually what a good man He had been and to then move on.

It is because He rose that there is a difference. That death was conquered and sin could no more condemn those who trust in the name of Christ.

Many men (and women) taught good lessons. To be kind, to forgive, to be generous in charity. No other makes the claim to have taken your sin upon Himself, none other made the claim that He died in your place that you may live eternally. Other faiths, other teachers tell you to try your best and if you are good enough you shall either: be re-incarnated into a better life next time, or if you have been really really exceptional, you'll blend into nothingness, or that if you try hard enough you might get to paradise, but that involves weighing every deed, every thought, every desire on a scale....how would you measure up? Christ says.....I am God, come in love to save you from your own self....for no man, no woman can ever be good enough, ever be pure enough to share eternity with a God that is holy and pure and cannot, by His very nature, let anything even the slightest bit sinful near Him. If God is that Holy....then the sin you carry as a taint makes God your very worst enemy, for sin must be destroyed. (And we all carry sin...think of today alone...the words you said, the thoughts you thought, the good deed you could have done, but didn't. What you did that you should not have done.) Jesus says to you...I see your sin, and I know you cannot save yourself....so I who am Pure, who am Holy....I took your sin upon myself 2000 years ago....for you I let them whip me and flay me to near the bone, for you I let them drive nails into My hands and feet, raise me up on that cross where I could barely breathe, blood running down, a crown of thorns pushed into my brow. With every agonizing breath...I thought of you. When God the Father, in order to reconcile you with Himself put your sins and the sins of the whole world upon me....I felt the crushing weight. (You know when you have done something wrong...that sick cold feeling, the burden on your mind and back, that darkness in us all we do not like to look at....all of your sins, all of my sins, the cumulative amount placed upon Jesus...I think that must have been the worst thing of all.) And then, because of sin...God turned His face from Christ...the only time where Jesus was not in perfect communion with the Father...where He cried, "My God, My God, why hast thou forsaken me??" And then, shortly after...death.

For you.

For me.

For all.

Can you even imagine such a death?

And then...the morning, oh Sunday morning, where He rose and death, and sin, had no more power.

Jesus says...I know you cannot save yourself...so I saved you. You cannot reconcile your sin with God...so I did it for you. I paid your price, you may enter into the presence of God now, as sons and daughters, for I, with my death and with my blood, have made you holy before God.

No other teacher, no other faith, can do this for you. They give comforting teachings (sometimes)...but no hope. No way of perfect peace with God, no assurity of Heaven.

You can see Buddha in a box, I did. I gazed upon the bones, and moved on.

You cannot find Christ in the tomb, or in a box. He is Risen. You cannot just move on, you must make a choice...are you for Christ, or against Him? Will you repent of sin and cling to Christ, and be assured of Heaven, or dismiss Him? We will all have to answer for our decision someday.

Go look for the empty tomb, He isn't there. Look instead though..for the Risen Savior.