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"If I go down, I'm taking you down with me." We've all heard that line. It's been used in movies and on television shows. We've seen it written in books and even in real--life news articles. Maybe we've even had it said directly to us. Somebody is in big trouble, and they are not going to face the punishment without involving someone else in their suffering.

Sometimes there's even a line that follows: "That's not just a threat; it's a promise," just to let us know that they are not bluffing. If they are going to bear the guilt, they are not going to bear it alone.

It's human nature not to want to take the blame for something, even if we are guilty of a wrongdoing. And at precisely such moments of confrontation, of being caught, we turn to our natural defenses. The number one of which is passing the buck.

All we have to do to find historical evidence of this type of vengeful practice is go to the beginning of the book we turn to for our religious background, the Bible. In the third chapter of Genesis, when God asked Adam if he did indeed disobey and eat the fruit he was told not to eat, Adam said, "Well ... yeah, but, it was that woman you gave to me who handed me the fruit and told me to eat it." Adam is implying that he would have never done it on his own. In essence, Adam is saying, "If I'm going down, I'm taking Eve with me."

Anyone who has ever spent time with children, whether their own or someone else's, has seen this tendency of the first man come all the way down through history to the present time. "It wasn't my fault. It was my sister. I didn't do it. It was my brother. Julie pushed her down, not me. I did it, but Billy made me do it."

We place the blame elsewhere. We don't want to face the punishment. That's what appears to be human nature. But to accept blame willingly or even take on the guilt of others - that's not our standard operating procedure. That's alien to our nature.

So when Jesus of Nazareth comes along and accepts not only the blame for the things we have done, but also for the things we have left undone, it's hard for us to comprehend. It goes against human nature. Instead of what we are used to hearing from other people, instead of being treated the way we have come to expect other people to treat us, Jesus says, "When I go up, I'm taking you with me." Then he adds, "That's not a threat; that's a promise." And when Jesus makes a promise, you can count on it.

Perhaps you've used those words yourself. Again, talking to children we will often use the threat/promise approach. "If you don't finish your homework, I'm going to ground you for a week." "If you touch those cookies in the cookie jar, you are going to bed without any television." "If you don't sit still during church, I'm going to spank you when we get home." (Oh, that last one is always a good one to make small children feel good about going to worship!) And we will often add those words that provide the finishing touch, "That's not just a threat; that's a promise."

Unfortunately, the church has taken the threat/promise approach far too often in its history. The church says to us, "If you don't change your ways now, you are going to hell." "If you are not actively involved in the worship and ministry of this congregation, you are not a Christian." "If your lifestyle does not conform to the standards we have set, you are outside the Kingdom of God."

But Jesus did not die on that cross to "take us down" with him. He died on the cross to go down for us. He went down in our place. We will all admit that, in the eyes of justice, we should have been on that cross. If the guilty are punished for their sins, then we deserve the punishment. If an eternity with God is dependent upon our worthiness to stand in the presence of God, then we are unworthy.

Jesus went down. He didn't take anyone with him. Not the soldiers who drove the nails into his hands. Not the crowd who gave him up and jeered at him. Not Pilate who washed his hands. Not even Judas who betrayed him.

He went down without a fight. He went down without a complaint. Jesus didn't whine or place the blame on anyone. Jesus went down and didn't take anyone down with him. But when he came up, he offered to take everyone along - even those who took him down.

That's what Easter is about. It's not just an empty tomb announcing that Jesus defeated death. It's not about Jesus showing the world he couldn't be put out of business. It's not even that Jesus wanted to give his followers proof of who he was. None of that mattered if people didn't understand the significance of the resurrection for their lives. Jesus already knew what he was capable of doing and he never felt compelled to give demonstrations. But if people didn't personally connect with Jesus' death and resurrection in their own lives, then none of what happened on Good Friday and Easter morning accomplished its intent.

Before his death on the cross, Jesus told his disciples that he was going to prepare a place for them. He shared with his followers the teachings of a better life here on earth. And he promised them that wherever they went and whatever they would be doing in the future, he would be with them.

That was his promise. He did not threaten them. He promised. And to this day, he has kept his promise, among his new disciples, you and me, and all who continue to put their trust and hope in him.

The resurrection finalized our ultimate connection to Jesus Christ. Because he went down for us, he came up with us, and takes us along with him. He has taken our lives with him to the next step. Through resurrection, our lives have been "kicked up a notch." We're not on the same level anymore. It's impossible for us to be connected with the resurrected Lord and still consider ourselves bottom--dwellers.

On Easter, we're used to hearing the story of Easter. We expect to hear how Jesus died, was buried, and especially the ending where he rose again from the grave. On this Easter, from what Saint Paul has written to us in his letter to the Colossians, we are also hearing how intimately our lives as Christians are tied into Jesus' resurrection. We have been raised with him to a new level of life. That's not some future event. That's now, here, where we are and as we live. And Paul tells us to seek and to love things that are above. He implores us to focus, to set our minds on those things, things at a higher level of existence, because that is where Christ has taken us.

Our lives have been changed, not because of anything in particular we have done or are doing, but our lives have been changed because Jesus has changed them. And because we are eternally connected to his life, we have the power to change the lives of others. When others view us in our "resurrected" lives, they are able to see Jesus.

Joey was six years old and wanted to meet God. He knew it was a long trip to where God lived, so he packed his suitcase with his mom's chocolate chip cookies and a couple of small cans of orange juice as he started his journey. He hadn't gone very far from home when he met an old man sitting in a park just staring at some birds playing in the fountain. Joey sat down next to him and opened his suitcase. He was about to take a drink from his orange juice when he noticed that the man looked a little hungry, so he offered him one of his freshly--baked cookies. The man gratefully accepted it and smiled at him. His smile was so pleasant that the boy wanted to see it again, so he offered him his other orange juice. Again, the old man smiled at him. Joey was delighted! The two sat there together all afternoon eating and smiling, but they never said a word. It began to get dark out and Joey realized how tired he was and he got up to leave, but before he had gone more than a few steps, he turned around, ran back to his new friend, and gave him a hug. The man gave him his biggest smile ever.

When Joey got home a short time later, his mother was surprised by the look of joy on his face. She asked him, "Joey, what did you do today that made you so happy?" Joey replied, "I had lunch with God." And before his mother could respond, he added, "You know what? He's got the most beautiful smile I've ever seen!"

Meanwhile, the old man, also radiant with joy, returned to his home. His son was puzzled by the look of peace on his father's face and he asked, "Dad, what did you do today that made you so happy?" He replied, "I ate cookies in the park with God." And, before his son could respond, he added, "You know, he's much younger than I expected."

The world can be a scary, sad, and lonely place in which to live. We might not always like what life dishes out. We might not always like the trials and tribulations that we have to face. Sometimes we get tired and worn out. Sometimes it seems like we've been robbed of all hope. We often question the meaning and purpose of life itself.

That's why God has given us each other in communion with Christ Jesus. Together, we can see above the pain, the hatred, the mistrust, and the violence that goes on all around us. Together, we can reach up to find the strength to endure and the spirit to persevere. Together, we can find the joy in living that God intended for us.

Together, Jesus has taken us all to another level. Not down, but up. Life is good, when we connect with Jesus. Life is joyous, when we keep focused on things above. Life is about being taken up with Jesus. Meaning in life, fulfillment in life, and happiness in life come from those simple things that Jesus taught. Like sharing cookies and juice with God and having his arms wrapped around us in an eternal hug.