Easter 2024
After a wind storm warning on Saturday night, and sleeping with the howling winds and rain/sleet pelting the windows, we awoke Easter morning to something less than the idyllic Easter morning.
No flowers were blooming, no green grass or blue skies appeared and the sun was hiding behind thick clouds. The roads were treacherous as we drove on a sheet of ice to the early morning worship service. And yet, regardless of our less than our less than spring-like circumstances, we rejoiced together because "He has risen!"
Actually, it was an appropriate reminder. Christ's death was not born of lovely things but of the full fury of sin let loose in the world. His family, followers, and disciples were grief-stricken at His death, weary with emotional pain, confusion, fear, and loss as to what it meant. But He endured, embraced, this to pay for our sins- become the propitiation for our sins (1 John 2:2) so that we could be restored in relationship with God and made free from death that kept us from God for all eternity. (1 John 5:10-13). The grave was empty and those that loved Him were even more confused. Things look so very dark and treacherous. But then...Jesus appeared. He revealed to them the whole truth of His death. It was not the end but only the beginning.
When I was growing up my parents always prepared for Easter Sunday with new attire. We had new shoes, socks, purses, dresses, and hats. The newness of our attire was meant to be a reminder of the newness of personal life that Christ provided us. The old was gone and the new had come. But Easter does not come, and our celebration does not depend upon perfect circumstances. The truth of Easter and the joy to God for providing a way to be freed from my sin, no longer controlled by it, and in relationship with Him breaks all bounds of circumstances. The icy roads were no deterrent to a time of fellowship and worship of Jesus. Many years we held Easter service at the lake in Canada, and most of the time as we enjoyed our service by the bonfire we were all wearing our winter warmest. But the fellowship and worship of Jesus was no less sincere and still brought glory to Him.
When we are suffering because of physical health issues Jesus is still there. When we suffer because of the sins of others Jesus is there. When everything is going well and we are sailing smoothly through life Jesus is there. He is there for us regardless of circumstance, internal or external.
He came to give us life, and abundant life! (John 10:10)
He has risen and it changed everything!
