Happy Easter on this Resurrection morning. If you are gathering with others to worship outdoors or in small numbers in church today many of us will hear, “The Lord is risen” and we will respond, “He is risen indeed, Hallelujah.”
Instead of the bare cross on Friday churches are filled with flower; music is joyful, people are celebrating. We get to revel in the wonder that God has power over all evil. The resurrection of Jesus proves that the power of God’s love is stronger than all of evil so anything challenging that happens in our lives – even like the COVID-19 pandemic that has been with us for so long – is something we can bring to God and expect His power to make changes in us – not just in our bodies but in our souls and spirits as well.
On the first Easter Sunday the women went to the tomb and found the stone rolled away from the entrance and Jesus not in the tomb. It is true that they ran back and told the others what they had seen. It is true that disciples like Peter and John went to the tomb and confirmed the women’s account. It is true that Jesus appeared to two friends walking along the road on the way home hearts full of sadness and confusion about the events of the day until Jesus not only spoke to them, but then sat down to dinner with them, and broke bread. They recognized Him and ran back to the others to tell them - Jesus loved ones and friends, who were hidden away behind locked doors, still shellshocked from what happened on Friday and not quite knowing what to do with what they are experiencing today. What is this new reality? How does it fit beside what was?
Aren’t we living in that kind of reality today? It’s Easter weekend for the second year under certain covid-19 pandemic restrictions. In our “new in-between normal” God speaks to us loudly in the resurrection of Jesus. I love You. I am with You. I have the power You need to live well in love today and every day. Because Jesus is alive, we can live well today and every day in this life and the next. Listen to these inspiring words:
Can anything separate us from Christ’s love? Can trouble or problems or persecution separate us from his love? If we have no food or clothes or face danger or even death, will that separate us from his love?
In all these troubles we have complete victory through God, who has shown his love for us. Yes, I am sure that NOTHING can separate us from God’s love—not death, life, angels, or ruling spirits. I am sure that NOTHING now, NOTHING in the future, NO powers, NOTHING above us or NOTHING below us—NOTHING in the whole created world—will ever be able to separate us from the love God has shown us in Christ Jesus our Lord. Romans 8:35, 37-39
Heavenly Father on the basis of Your word and Your actions – like the raising of Jesus from the dead, we come to you today. We come with gratitude and celebration that You are alive and that because You live, we too shall live. So many things seem to challenge our quality of life these days, but You have told us so clearly in those words from the Bible that nothing can separate us from Your love – the love You have shown us in Jesus.
Help us today to move beyond an Easter message as “information” and move into it as “lived experience.” God, bring Your love to life in us today. We trade in our sorrows, our anger, our fears, our frustrations, our uncertainties, our doubts, our burdens and on this Easter Sunday we welcome faith and hope and love. We trade in our self-will and sin and we surrender to You, Jesus. You have proven You are the Saviour with the power to change a human life forever.
Thank you for journeying with us and explaining things to us as we go. You meet us where we are and help our faith and trust to grow in You. Jesus, whatever the rest of this day and the future hold, we want to journey with You. Fill us with courage and grace to meet each new challenge with peace and hope as we rely on You
Even though our hearts tremble a bit we will respond with the “Hallelujah” when the announcement rings out, “The Lord is risen. He is risen indeed!” Amen
Well, whatever your Easter dinner looks like today, however much chocolate you eat, I pray this will be a day of joy and celebration. Happy Easter friends!!! Have a wonderful day.
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