The Road to Easter: He Has Risen, He Has Risen Indeed
(NIV) John 20:13 They asked her, “Woman, why are you crying?”
“They have taken my Lord away,” she said, “and I don’t know where they have put him.” 14 At this, she turned around and saw Jesus standing there, but she did not realize that it was Jesus.
15 He asked her, “Woman, why are you crying? Who is it you are looking for?”
Thinking he was the gardener, she said, “Sir, if you have carried him away, tell me where you have put him, and I will get him.”
16 Jesus said to her, “Mary.”
Anyone who has lost a loved one knows the grief that accompanies such loss. For Mary, the loss was a weight she could no longer carry alone. Jesus had delivered her from demonic possession and her gratitude had no limits.
She remained at the foot of the cross along with Mary, the mother of Jesus, Salome, and John the Beloved. Wracked with sorrow, but not only because of Jesus’ death and the uncertainty of what would happen to His followers. Now, someone seemingly moved His body to an undisclosed location.
She looks at Jesus, but there is no recognition. But then it happens. Jesus calls her by name! Oh, how precious to hear the voice of the One who delivered her and redeemed her. She must have believed the sound of that voice was lost forever.
Two of the Old Testament scriptures that speak to God knowing our names are:
Isaiah 43:1 But now thus says the Lord, he who created you, O Jacob, he who formed you, O Israel: “Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by name, you are mine.
John 10:14 I am the good shepherd. I know my own and my own know me, just as the Father knows me and I know the Father; and I lay down my life for the sheep.
Today, we celebrate the Resurrection with song, with Scripture and with a message designed to point us not only to the Cross, but to the open tomb. May this Easter resurrect in us the need to listen to the Shepherd’s call and follow.
In the name of the father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen
The Road to Easter: Holy Saturday
(NIV) Luke 23:50 Now there was a man named Joseph, a member of the Council, a good and upright man, 51 who had not consented to their decision and action. He came from the Judean town of Arimathea, and he himself was waiting for the kingdom of God. 52 Going to Pilate, he asked for Jesus’ body. 53 Then he took it down, wrapped it in linen cloth and placed it in a tomb cut in the rock, one in which no one had yet been laid. 54 It was Preparation Day, and the Sabbath was about to begin.
55 The women who had come with Jesus from Galilee followed Joseph and saw the tomb and how his body was laid in it. 56 Then they went home and prepared spices and perfumes. But they rested on the Sabbath in obedience to the commandment.
It was Holy Saturday, and Jesus’ body lay in the tomb. The disciples, adhering to Jewish tradition, stayed in their homes. One might argue their motive to remain home on this Passover was less about tradition and more about fear that they would be identified with the King of the Jews.
There was a stark contrast to the day before. As Jesus uttered His final words, “It is finished,” the skies grew dark as night, tombs were opened and the temple veil was torn from top to bottom.
But on the second day, all was quiet. The stone still sealed the entrance to the tomb and seemingly nothing had changed.
But change was on the way.
As we go through this day, may we take a holy pause. Unlike the disciples who were still in the darkness of despair, we know how the story ends, not with defeat but with victory.
May we live today in anticipation of tomorrow.
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
The Road to Easter: Good Friday
(NIV) John 19:16 So the soldiers took charge of Jesus. 17 Carrying his own cross, he went out to the place of the Skull (which in Aramaic is called Golgotha). 18 There they crucified him, and with him two others —one on each side and Jesus in the middle.
19 Pilate had a notice prepared and fastened to the cross. It read: JESUS OF NAZARETH, THE KING OF THE JEWS.
As a child I wondered what could be good about the day Jesus was crucified? Satan had tried for centuries to extinguish Jesus, first by eliminating His bloodline and finally by killing the very lamb of God.
The skies grew dark, the light of the world was hidden, and hope seemed gone. But wait! It was Friday, but Sunday was coming!
You see, there are certain things we must understand in order to see Jesus’ crucifixion as good.
First, we must realize the human condition, apart from Jesus, is sinful and therefore we are separated from God.
Second, God planned from the foundation of the world to be reconciled to man.
Third, such reconciliation required a blood sacrifice.
Finally, Jesus willingly became that sacrifice.
So yes, we refer to this day as Good Friday because of the good that resulted from Jesus’ sacrifice. Without the cross there would be no redemption, and without redemption we would be forever separated from God.
It’s Friday, but Sunday is coming.
In the name of the Father, and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen
The Road to Easter:
Communion, Disappointment, and Betrayal
(NIV) Luke 22:19 And he took bread, gave thanks and broke it, and gave it to them, saying, “This is my body given for you; do this in remembrance of me.”
(NIV) Luke 22:39 “My Father, if it is possible, may this cup be taken from me. Yet not as I will, but as you will.”
40 Then he returned to his disciples and found them sleeping. “Couldn’t you men keep watch with me for one hour?” he asked Peter.
The time had arrived when Jesus’ earthly ministry would end, and while the disciples may well have believed their gathering was just another Passover celebration, two men at the table knew differently. Jesus and Judas both understood this was not an ordinary dinner.
That Thursday night, Jesus instituted what we now call The Lord’s Supper, or Holy Communion. When we approach the table and we partake of the bread and juice, that solemn moment is transformative.
And Judas, already paid to turn Jesus over to the authorities, was quietly biding his time, believing his treachery had gone unnoticed.
But the night was far from over. The following events transpired before dawn:
• Jesus showed the disciples the meaning of humility by washing their feet.
• Jesus prayed while His disciples slept
• Judas led the soldiers to the garden, betraying Jesus with a kiss
• Jesus was taken before the Sanhedrin for a trial
• Peter denied Christ three times
• Jesus was beaten mercilessly
When faced with their own mortality, the disciples reacted with fear, abandoning their teacher, their Lord, their friend. As our Lenten journey nears an end, may these forty days of reflection result in a renewed awareness of Who Jesus is and who we are in Him.
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
The Road to Easter: The Widow’s Mite
(NIV) Mark 12:41-44
41 Jesus sat down opposite the place where the offerings were put and watched the crowd putting their money into the temple treasury. Many rich people threw in large amounts. 42 But a poor widow came and put in two very small copper coins, worth only a few cents.
43 Calling his disciples to him, Jesus said, “Truly I tell you, this poor widow has put more into the treasury than all the others. 44 They all gave out of their wealth; but she, out of her poverty, put in everything—all she had to live on.”
After the conflict with the money changers, Jesus returned to Bethany. The next morning, the day we now refer to as Holy Tuesday, Jesus returned to Jerusalem where he told many parables. Following these stories is the account of the Widow’s Mite.
Why is it we fail to understand that the depth of the gospel message can be found in its simplicity? The story, sandwiched between the warning against teachers of the law who do things for show and the prediction of the destruction of Temple, confirms that God is not impressed by outward appearances.
The widow doubtless was unaware she was being observed as she deposited her money, or that her story would become a part of the Holy Scriptures. Yet, we are still moved by one whose faith was greater than her fear.
May our faith today move us beyond our fear as we continue our journey toward the cross and ultimately to the resurrection.
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
Seeking Holiness 