In the comic strip, Calvin and Hobbes, Calvin is at school, and his teacher is attempting to teach the class: She asked, “If there are no questions, we will move on to the next chapter.” Calvin raises his hand and says, “I have a question.” Teacher: “Certainly Calvin, what is it?” Calvin: “What’s the point of human existence?” Teacher: “I meant any questions about the subject at hand.” “Oh,” said Calvin frankly, “I’d like to have the issue resolved before I expend any more energy on this.” 

While I always get a laugh out of Calvin’s motives, for some reason they seem familiar, a part of me can also appreciate his question. Deep down, we long to settle the question: “What’s the point of our human existence?” It is the ultimate questions that give meaning to each moment of life. That’s what I find so wonderful about the Easter Season…it is a celebration of God’s ultimate answer to our life. 

Not that God hasn’t revealed himself throughout human existence. The Bible tells: since what may be known about God is plain to them because God has made it plain to them. For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature—have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that people are without excuse. (Romans 1:19-20) 

And certainly, we see God’s power in creation; a creation that can fill our souls with wonder and awe…and a sense that there is a personal and perpetuating power to whom we belong. 

And certainly, we see in the entire life and ministry of Christ, God’s power and love to come close, to heal and set free…But perhaps nowhere is God’s ultimate word of response more settled and summed up than at the empty tomb we celebrate on Easter morning. 

In fact, tombs have often been known to tell us a lot about a person. Tomb stones themselves are often said to be a summation of one’s life. I saw one that said, “It’s Dark down here.” Another that said, “Jokes Over Let me out Now.” That is a pretty hopeless viewpoint on the afterlife. 

But because Jesus does not have a tombstone, because his body was not left in the earth to corrupt he gives us hope for this life and the afterlife. His epitaph is My Father’s house has many rooms; if that were not so, would I have told you that I am going there to prepare a place for you? (John 14:2) That is why this season is so great we are reminded that Jesus is alive, He gives us life and has not forgotten us and will not leave us in the grave.