"Early on the first day of the week, while it was still dark, Mary Magdalene went to the tomb and saw that the stone had been removed from the entrance. So she came running to Simon Peter and the other disciple, the one Jesus loved, and said 'They have taken the Lord out of the tomb, and we don't know where they have put him!' So Peter and the other disciple started for the tomb. Both were running, but the other disciple outran Peter and reached the tomb first. He bent over and looked in at the strips of linen lying there but did not go in. Then Simon Peter came along behind him and went straight into the tomb. He saw the strips of linen lying there, as well as the cloth that had been wrapped around Jesus' head. The cloth was still lying in its place, separate from the linen" John 20:1-7.
Easter is a special time of the year. It usually signals the beginning of Spring, which seems appropriate. Spring is when the flowers begin to bloom, and the days become longer and warmer. It always feels like a new beginning after the gray and dreariness of winter. There's more life in Spring.
Easter is the same way. We celebrate Easter as the resurrection of Jesus from the dead after paying humanity's debt on the cross. He took the penalty and wrath meant for us on Good Friday, yet death could not contain Him. Because of that, we, as believers, are afforded new life in Christ. A new beginning, if you will.
It's always a busy day in the church on Easter. People get all dressed up, some in new outfits. I wear a suit and tie. And, you see an influx of people coming to the church on that day. People that you have not seen since either last Easter or Christmas. It shows that the message of Easter is that important - that people will flock to church on that day, even if they are not regular visitors.
But, what about the day after Easter? Or, even a week later? Does the message of Easter only resonate for one church service? Is the Easter service for several people a check in the box for their life? An accomplishment? I don't know the answer.
There was a discussion at church with one of the pastors who stated that the church doesn't speak as much on the resurrection of Jesus as it should. We talk about His teachings and sacrifice, which is important, but not so much as what his resurrection means to us. Why is the resurrection so important?
Without the resurrection, everything else is for naught. We are doomed in our sin and will get the full wrath of God. Jesus had to conquer death for any of us to have hope and a future. Not that death could hold Him anyways. What's the point of living without any hope? Death is now something no longer to be feared. This is the message of hope that should be spoken more often from the pulpits.
The day after Easter marked a change in the status quo. God's plan to redeem mankind was completed and we now walked in a different kind of world. As I said, we now have a hope and a future, the enemy is defeated, and reconciliation has come. With that, how we react to that news and move forward is important. We can choose to ignore it or embrace it and tell others.
Why do people come back to church for Easter? What is it about that day that touches people? Is it a "requirement" to attend? Like a check mark to say I am a follower? Then, move on to Christmas, perhaps, or the next Easter?
The message of Easter is too important to be treated as such. (the same applies to me as anyone else). God wants more than our attendance on Easter Sunday in our finest clothes. He wants relationship with us, not that He needs anything from us, but just that He loves us. Even for those who come this one time a year, Jesus loves you and wants to work wonders in your hearts.
But, God wants us the next day too. And the day after. And the weeks, months, and years after. This relationship with God is no casual thing. God pursues us. We don't pursue Him - He comes after us.
Romans 5:8 says "But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us."
We were against Him, and God still loved us (Not the things we do which is a difference). He pursued after us. Christ made the sacrifice in our place. Why? Because God loves us. How many of us would sacrifice anything for an enemy of ours? How many for people we don't know? Yet, God sacrificed his Son for all of us.
That's the message we take from Easter and the day after. I pray, that this Easter, God moved in peoples' lives. That people who only come to church once a year saw God. Heck, I want to see God move in mine and others' lives. God wants to move in significant ways in all our lives.
John 3:16-17: "For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him"
Happy Easter!!!
Easter is a special time of the year. It usually signals the beginning of Spring, which seems appropriate. Spring is when the flowers begin to bloom, and the days become longer and warmer. It always feels like a new beginning after the gray and dreariness of winter. There's more life in Spring.
Easter is the same way. We celebrate Easter as the resurrection of Jesus from the dead after paying humanity's debt on the cross. He took the penalty and wrath meant for us on Good Friday, yet death could not contain Him. Because of that, we, as believers, are afforded new life in Christ. A new beginning, if you will.
It's always a busy day in the church on Easter. People get all dressed up, some in new outfits. I wear a suit and tie. And, you see an influx of people coming to the church on that day. People that you have not seen since either last Easter or Christmas. It shows that the message of Easter is that important - that people will flock to church on that day, even if they are not regular visitors.
But, what about the day after Easter? Or, even a week later? Does the message of Easter only resonate for one church service? Is the Easter service for several people a check in the box for their life? An accomplishment? I don't know the answer.
There was a discussion at church with one of the pastors who stated that the church doesn't speak as much on the resurrection of Jesus as it should. We talk about His teachings and sacrifice, which is important, but not so much as what his resurrection means to us. Why is the resurrection so important?
Without the resurrection, everything else is for naught. We are doomed in our sin and will get the full wrath of God. Jesus had to conquer death for any of us to have hope and a future. Not that death could hold Him anyways. What's the point of living without any hope? Death is now something no longer to be feared. This is the message of hope that should be spoken more often from the pulpits.
The day after Easter marked a change in the status quo. God's plan to redeem mankind was completed and we now walked in a different kind of world. As I said, we now have a hope and a future, the enemy is defeated, and reconciliation has come. With that, how we react to that news and move forward is important. We can choose to ignore it or embrace it and tell others.
Why do people come back to church for Easter? What is it about that day that touches people? Is it a "requirement" to attend? Like a check mark to say I am a follower? Then, move on to Christmas, perhaps, or the next Easter?
The message of Easter is too important to be treated as such. (the same applies to me as anyone else). God wants more than our attendance on Easter Sunday in our finest clothes. He wants relationship with us, not that He needs anything from us, but just that He loves us. Even for those who come this one time a year, Jesus loves you and wants to work wonders in your hearts.
But, God wants us the next day too. And the day after. And the weeks, months, and years after. This relationship with God is no casual thing. God pursues us. We don't pursue Him - He comes after us.
Romans 5:8 says "But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us."
We were against Him, and God still loved us (Not the things we do which is a difference). He pursued after us. Christ made the sacrifice in our place. Why? Because God loves us. How many of us would sacrifice anything for an enemy of ours? How many for people we don't know? Yet, God sacrificed his Son for all of us.
That's the message we take from Easter and the day after. I pray, that this Easter, God moved in peoples' lives. That people who only come to church once a year saw God. Heck, I want to see God move in mine and others' lives. God wants to move in significant ways in all our lives.
John 3:16-17: "For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him"
Happy Easter!!!
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