Why Did You Come to Church on Easter?

"So the soldiers took the money and did as they were instructed.” – Matthew 28:15

A week ago Sunday, most Christian churches saw their biggest attendance day of the year. People who rarely, if ever, attend showed up in droves. And we might ask ourselves … why?

Let’s take a look who came to Jesus’ grave that first Easter morning. Most of us think first of the group of women who went to Jesus’ tomb. They came to anoint Jesus’ grave cloths with spices and oils as a sign of respect and love.

But those devoted women were beaten to the tomb by about 24 hours – by Roman guards. Governor Pilate had ordered the tomb guarded to make sure Jesus’ disciples couldn’t steal the body and claim that he’d risen from the dead. So, when the women arrived, the guards were already there.

None of them knew yet that the tomb was empty – until an angel appeared, rolled back the stone and sat on it. The guards were so terrified that they were frozen in place—so scared they couldn’t even run away.

While the women left to share the good news with the disciples, the guards finally got moving as well. Some of them went to the city and told the Jewish leaders what had happened. The leaders hastily devised a plan. They gave the soldiers “a large sum of money”—likely a year’s wages—and ordered them to keep their mouths shut (v. 12). So, the soldiers took the money and obeyed their orders. That was their story, and they were paid well to stick to it.

But the soldiers knew the truth. And so did the women. And later that day, so did Jesus’ apostles. Within a few short years, Christianity swept across three continents, because the fact of the resurrection was plain to see.

Now, I want to ask you two very important questions:

Question #1: Did you go to an Easter service because you were somehow PAID to be there … or because you WANTED to be there? The soldiers were at the tomb because they were PAID to be there. The women were at the tomb because they WANTED to be there. Last week, many Americans came to church because a family member pretty much made them come. Others might have come because they were serving lunch afterward. Still others came for an Easter Egg Hunt, prize giveaways or free entertainment.

Question #2: Are you walking past a goldmine of eternal treasure for a few quick bucks? As the Roman guards left the temple with a bag of cash, they thought they’d struck it rich. They ran past a goldmine to pick up a few pennies. That’s how it is when we choose money over Jesus, when we choose goods over God, when we choose the temporary things of earth over the eternal things of heaven. We don’t go to church with our families each week because we don’t feel like it. We’ve got more important things to do.

Are you more like a paid soldier who was at the tomb for the money, or are you like one of Jesus’ followers who came because they truly loved Jesus? I pray that when you come to church, it’s because you WANT to be there. I pray that instead of toying with Jesus Christ, you come to trust in Him and follow Him.

Dane Davis is the pastor of Impact Christian Church at 17746 George Blvd. in Victorville. Join us for Sunday services in person or online at 9 a.m. on Facebook Live or YouTube. For more information, visit www.GreaterImpact.cc.