Easter. The word – along with Lent – literally means, “Spring.” But no one who hears that word today things of melting snow and budding flowers. What Jesus did on that spring morning forever changed how we use that word.
It is an apt word though to designate the day that Jesus rose from the dead. Deaths dreadful bands could not hold the Lord of Life and as he steps forth victorious on Easter morning Life begins to happen all around.
Watch the progression:
1. The women come to the tomb and find it empty. They are still in the throes of death, they run off in fear to tell Peter and “the other disciple” aka John.
2. John and Peter arrive at the tomb and go in. They see the emptiness, the linens lying there, but the face cloth is folded. Why? But John believes! A spark of life!
3. Mary stands weeping in the garden. When Jesus appears to her, she doesn’t recognize Him. But when he speaks her name, “Rabboni!” She grabs hold of Him! She believes He has risen and is alive with faith!
4. The other disciples are hidden from the Jews, and Jesus appears in their midst. “Shalom!” he says. Peace he gives them, but not just any peace, “If you forgive anyone’s sins, they are forgiven!” He is giving them peace with God! Here is life – better, here is eternal life!
5. But Thomas is not there and he does not believe. So Jesus appears again, and Thomas worships, “My Lord and my God!” Life for Thomas! Jesus replies, “Have you believed because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.” You know who he is talking about, don’t you? You and me! Life for us!
6. “Now Jesus did many other signs in the presence of the disciples, which are not written in this book; but these are written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name.”
Easter is central to Jesus’ purpose. He wants us to see how much God loves us. He wants us to know God. He shows us by dying on Calvary’s Cross. As John the Baptist said, “Look the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world.” But if Jesus was dead, how would we ever be certain that our sins were paid for? How would we ever know if we need to offer another, and another, and another sacrifice for our sins? How could we know Jesus’ sacrifice was accepted? Jesus could have simply gone to heaven and been done, but he loved us so much that he burst the grave’s doors and walked among us once again. And in doing so, he blazed a path for us to follow through death to eternal life by faith in Him.
These things are written so that we can believe; so that we can have life. What a message! What a hope! What a God we have! “In him was life, and the life was the light of men.”
Lord Jesus, we praise you for you have given us life. Alleluia! Praise the Lord! Help us to walk in the light and share your life with others. Amen.
It is an apt word though to designate the day that Jesus rose from the dead. Deaths dreadful bands could not hold the Lord of Life and as he steps forth victorious on Easter morning Life begins to happen all around.
Watch the progression:
1. The women come to the tomb and find it empty. They are still in the throes of death, they run off in fear to tell Peter and “the other disciple” aka John.
2. John and Peter arrive at the tomb and go in. They see the emptiness, the linens lying there, but the face cloth is folded. Why? But John believes! A spark of life!
3. Mary stands weeping in the garden. When Jesus appears to her, she doesn’t recognize Him. But when he speaks her name, “Rabboni!” She grabs hold of Him! She believes He has risen and is alive with faith!
4. The other disciples are hidden from the Jews, and Jesus appears in their midst. “Shalom!” he says. Peace he gives them, but not just any peace, “If you forgive anyone’s sins, they are forgiven!” He is giving them peace with God! Here is life – better, here is eternal life!
5. But Thomas is not there and he does not believe. So Jesus appears again, and Thomas worships, “My Lord and my God!” Life for Thomas! Jesus replies, “Have you believed because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.” You know who he is talking about, don’t you? You and me! Life for us!
6. “Now Jesus did many other signs in the presence of the disciples, which are not written in this book; but these are written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name.”
Easter is central to Jesus’ purpose. He wants us to see how much God loves us. He wants us to know God. He shows us by dying on Calvary’s Cross. As John the Baptist said, “Look the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world.” But if Jesus was dead, how would we ever be certain that our sins were paid for? How would we ever know if we need to offer another, and another, and another sacrifice for our sins? How could we know Jesus’ sacrifice was accepted? Jesus could have simply gone to heaven and been done, but he loved us so much that he burst the grave’s doors and walked among us once again. And in doing so, he blazed a path for us to follow through death to eternal life by faith in Him.
These things are written so that we can believe; so that we can have life. What a message! What a hope! What a God we have! “In him was life, and the life was the light of men.”
Lord Jesus, we praise you for you have given us life. Alleluia! Praise the Lord! Help us to walk in the light and share your life with others. Amen.
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