For Christians everywhere Easter is the commemoration of the resurrection of Jesus Christ. Christians interpret this literally, and this ability of Jesus to rise from the dead sets him apart from the rest of humanity. It’s a glorious story of hope and the fulfillment of the promise of eternal life. The metaphysical interpretation of the resurrection of the Christ also imparts the truth of eternal life, but with a twist. In that tradition, Jesus isn’t just the only one resurrected and he came to save us. Rather, He came to demonstrate what we too may do if we believe in His words.
The Bible says: If the Spirit of the one who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, the one who raised Christ from the dead will give life to your mortal bodies also, through his Spirit that dwells in you.
Jesus Christ rose from the dead. And the Christ lives in me. That is the good news of Christianity, and it’s not just true for Christians. All on the mystical path, whatever their tradition, connect with this indwelling Lord. When Christians (current and historical) behave badly toward others, it’s because they fail to realize that Christ is not Jesus’ last name. The Christ is the divine Spirit that raised Jesus from the dead and walks with each of us in every moment. Whether we call Him Christ or not.
The Episcopal clergyman Phillips Brooks said: Let every man and woman count himself immortal. Let him catch the revelation of Jesus in his resurrection. Let him say not merely, “Christ is risen,” but “I shall rise.” This ability to recognize that we have the same inheritance from the heavenly “Father” as Jesus did is key to the healing of the world. If I can experience it within me, I can’t help but see it in others.
The Buddha said, “See yourself in others. Then whom can you hurt? What harm can you do?” And obviously this “self” could not be our ego – it would make no sense for us to share an ego with another. “Yourself” in this context is the one divine thread weaving into existence all of creation. To follow Jesus is also to recognize this.
It’s fitting that spring festival type rituals (eggs and bunnies and flowers) are part of the Easter celebration. Spring can be described as nature “coming back to life.” As Martin Luther wrote: Our Lord has written the promise of resurrection, not in books alone, but in every leaf in springtime.
May you find peace in the beauty of spring, whether Jesus is your savior of choice or not. Whether you celebrated Easter, Holi, Passover, something else or nothing else. As the eternal cycle of death and rebirth, however we conceive of it, marches on. In all its wonderous glory – the divine Spirit beckoning to us through every new bud.
How do you experience resurrection and life eternal? Leave me a comment or connect with me here. For more uplifting quotes and beautiful images, follow The Mystical One on Twitter.