Test Driving Theology

The angel said to the women, “Do not be afraid, for I know that you are looking for Jesus who was crucified. He is not here, for he has been raised.” Matthew 28:5-6

My very favorite TV show is “West Wing.”  I love the story lines, I love the fast-paced writing and I love the characters. Regardless of your political philosophy, this is a well written, well acted show. Every episode, the President and his team of advisors are working to solve some domestic or international crisis.  One of the things I love about the show, is that often, once a crisis comes to a conclusion, and the President and his staff is in the Oval Office, the president will look around and will ask, “what’s next?”  And at that point, the end credits usually roll.

“What’s next?” is a great question.  It implies both completion and motion.  It sets an expectation.  It tells us that there is more to be done.

In Matthew 28: 5-6, an angel is speaking to some of the disciples.  the angel reminds them to not be afraid.  And then the angel says “He is not here, for he has been raised.”  

I can imagine the disciples expectant faces.  I can envision them looking at the angel…then looking at each other…then back at the angel.  And then, they might have said something like “ok…so what’s next?”

The resurrection happens.  What’s next? What does the single most significant event in human history teach us about how we are to live our lives?  

The words the angel spoke at the empty tomb are the core of our Easter proclamation: “He is not here, for he has been raised!” These words are the heart of our faith. And the angel’s invitation to “come and see” is not just historical; it is a personal invitation extended to each of us, an invitation to witness that death does not have the final word.

The resurrection of Jesus is the cornerstone of our faith, affirming that life can emerge from death, that hope can spring from despair. It is a dynamic and ongoing invitation to experience transformation in our own lives. In our darkest moments, when all seems lost, the message of the resurrection assures us that God’s love is unstoppable. Through Jesus’ resurrection, God renews our hearts. 

So “what’s next?” 

• We live as people of God. 
• We live as people set free from the things that bind us. 
• We live as people set free to serve and care in Jesus name. 
• We live as people of hope, transformation, and unwavering faith.
• We stand for peace. We stand for justice. We stand for love.

In these days of summer, remember the empty tomb, and remember that no situation is beyond God’s redemption. This season, remember what’s next.