1 Corinthians 15: 51,52- Behold! I tell you a mystery. We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised imperishable, and we shall be changed.
Why weren’t there trumpets at the Resurrection of Jesus? There was an earthquake. There were angels. There was an empty tomb. But no trumpets.
Yet, for me, trumpets make the festival. Loud trumpets. Cornets. Piccolo trumpets. B flat or C trumpets. Put some timpani with them just to make sure the trumpets don’t get too carried away on their own (we all know those trumpet players have zero confidence issues), and it’s time to raise the roof with “Alleluias” and other songs of praise.
On Easter, we were reminded of the facts of the day. The empty tomb. The angels at the tomb announcing the “He is not here.” The women with the wild story of their visit to the tomb. John and Peter’s foot race to the tomb. And, oh, the facts are plenty in the archives of history that Jesus died (really died) and was buried. And those facts are what make us secure in our own resurrection someday.
It’s that part of Easter that gets the trumpets out. Because even though Jesus resurrection comes with little fanfare, His second coming will be with GREAT fanfare and we will be the ones celebrating a new life, a new body. “The trumpets will sound, and the dead will be raised...” Jesus, the first fruits assures us that we will rise too.
We had trumpets at Zion on Easter. Oh we had trumpets...and timpani.. and choir..and awesome hymns....and we had Christ. We had Him in His Word. We had Him in His Supper. We have him alive, as you do.
We are Easter people. Sins forgiven. Guilt removed. Death defeated. Heaven waiting.
Christ is risen! He is risen, Indeed! Alleluia.
