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Easter is about resurrection. The act of returning to life. Jesus, having been dead — completely dead — now lives.
On Good Friday, all the hopes of the whole of human history were nailed to the cross. Humanityies’ hope for love and forgiveness hung lifeless on that cross. The prospects for grace and peace, not to mention mercy and compassion, were lost. God’s best and last hope for expressing His never ending desire to be in a loving, intimate relationship with all humankind was hanging beaten, bloodied, and dead on a cross.
Easter is the story of what seemed lost being found, of what seemed crushed being restored, and what was surely dead being brought back to life. Easter is what God is all about. Of all the stories and images that come to mind when we think of the Bible, Easter is the story that gives meaning to all the others.
We all need the power of Easter in our lives. The knowledge that the God who has made us is also able, whatever our circumstances, to give us life and love, purpose and fulfillment. The worth of every person is beyond question when considered in light of the empty tomb of Easter morning. Each one of us has much to be grateful for as we consider the richness of God’s love for us.
God did not do Easter for just one of us, though I am sure that God would have done it all the same if there had only been one of us. Nonetheless, God did it for all of us.
So what began with Jesus continues with us. What Jesus started was the Kingdom of God. What we as His followers continue to do is put into practice what He did and said.
Easter is a year-round activity. In our own lives, there is a need each day to resurrect the values of the Kingdom of God. We need to be about giving breath to joy, gratitude and contentment in our daily living.
Easter gets at that sort of thing — not to make us feel bad about what we lack or what we are missing, but to remind us of what God intended for us.
So, HAPPY EASTER! May the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ fill your life each day. May it be sufficient for all you face. May it fill you to overflowing so that you may be a witness to the resurrection. A witness to:
Sorrow turned to joy,
Doubt turned to trust,
Despair turned to hope,
Indifference turned to love.
Tell stories of hungry people being fed, people being sheltered, sick people being cared for, and sinners finding forgiveness. These kinds of stories tell us plainly that He is alive.
He is alive.
Christ is risen.
Hallelujah!
Joy and Peace,
Ed
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