We are an Easter People and Alleluia is our Song!
As we meditate and celebrate Holy Week, I invite you to read 1 Corinthians 15 and watch this video: https://youtu.be/G_OlRWGLdnw
“For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received, that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, and that He was buried, and that He was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures, and that He appeared to Cephas, then to the twelve.
(1 Cor 15:3-5)
I love Easter. Not because of the bunnies and eggs (although I am certainly not opposed to any form of chocolate), but because our faith literally rises or falls on the resurrection of Jesus. “If we have hoped in Christ in this life only, we are of all men most to be pitied.” (1 Corinthians 15:19) This is followed by one of the greatest phrases in all Scripture: But now. History (and Life and Scripture) records time after time when life is dark, when evil appears to have won, when all hope seems lost, when it feels like we’ve been abandoned, when we appear doomed. A bit like now? Suddenly, a plot twist! But God. But now. 119 times in Scripture. …But God. …But now. The Word is all about life taking place where death has been.
But now Christ has been raised from the dead. (1 Corinthians 15:20)
Jesus dies on Friday. All hope seems lost. But God raises Jesus on Sunday… A lot of us are living in Saturday right now in many different ways, trying to hold onto hope, stuck in between death and resurrection. Our world and our Lord are calling us to a Long Obedience in the Same Direction. And some days are harder than others. A lot of people are hurting and anxious and stuck in Saturday.
I encourage you to take some time to reflect:
On Friday: atonement, sacrifice, honest assessment, confession, surrender, lament, tears, gratitude, forgiveness, identification with Christ in His death.
On Saturday: getting real with bewilderment, doubts, uncertainty, discouragement, struggles, grief, weariness, frustration, wherever "I do believe; help my unbelief." (Mark 9:24) or honest wrestling with feelings of "My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?" (Matt 27:46) If Jesus could voice His heartbreaking emotions, so can we.
On Sunday: celebration and identification with the new life of Christ. Dancing and singing and feasting and embracing our risen Lord and those we love. Expressing our worship and joy to God. Expressing our love for those who share in our New Community. Party down! Safely and remotely and six feet apart or online. But somehow, CELEBRATE!
“Behold, I tell you a mystery; we will not all sleep, but we will all be changed, in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet; for the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised imperishable, and we will be changed. For this perishable must put on the imperishable, and this mortal must put on immortality. But when this perishable will have put on the imperishable, and this mortal will have put on immortality, then will come about the saying that is written, "DEATH IS SWALLOWED UP in victory. ‘O DEATH, WHERE IS YOUR VICTORY? O DEATH, WHERE IS YOUR STING?’ The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law; but thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.
Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your toil is not in vain in the Lord.” (1 Cor 15:51-58)
Easter 2020 will be different for most of us. But I pray it will be very special and extra meaningful. This week in 2020 is very challenging. …But God…!
He IS Risen! He is Risen Indeed!