The month of April in our calendar, might hold a number of exciting events for us, especially, as Christ followers, we look forward to Easter, as a time when we celebrate Christ’s death and resurrection.
I know for the kids it remains Easter egg time, egg hunts, a time for more chocolate, ( as categorized by some as a food group). We think of Friday; the day we remember, that Christ paid the ultimate price for us. We then move quickly on to Sunday, where our traditional greeting is “he is risen”, and the traditional response is “ he is indeed risen”. Traditions have a way of assisting us in keeping in mind, the times and seasons, yet what they often don’t do is keep us connected to truth and life.
While reflecting on this coming Easter I was once again struck by Friday, and the price, the penalty, the pain and yes the purpose. Yet what arose in me more than the death of Christ, and truly my gratitude goes deep, and in no way do I minimize Friday. Yet when I think and look to Sunday I think of and am excited, thrilled and over awed at…… LIFE.
It reflects our joy in the Resurrection of Jesus and his appearances among his followers. He calls Mary Magdalene by name, he bestows his peace in an Upper Room, he breaks bread with two companions at an inn in Emmaus, and he prepares breakfast for the disciples, weary from a long night of fishing. Recently Bridget and I had the privilege of being in Israel, and time stopped for us as we partook of fish caught in the Sea of Galilee, prepared whole as they would have done 2000 years ago, and ate it with bread. It is Talapia of course, but is commonly known as St Peter’s fish. what an amazing experience, eating the same fish with bread that Jesus caught and cooked for his fellow disciples. The tangible presence of Christ was evident.
In all these encounters there is a greeting and a recognition, that it is the Lord who is among them. Today He is among us.
He has given us a message, a mandate and we have been commissioned to spread the Life of Christ, a risen savior, what a glorious weekend. When we greet each other this weekend, let us utter these words with reverence, with excitement, and as this was the bridge that Christ built for man to enter heaven, let us be bridge builders for the kingdom, a loud exuberant declaration “ HE IS INDEED RISEN”
The month of April in our calendar, might hold a number of exciting events for us, especially, as Christ followers, we look forward to Easter, as a time when we celebrate Christ’s death and resurrection.
I know for the kids it remains Easter egg time, egg hunts, a time for more chocolate, ( as categorized by some as a food group). We think of Friday; the day we remember, that Christ paid the ultimate price for us. We then move quickly on to Sunday, where our traditional greeting is “he is risen”, and the traditional response is “ he is indeed risen”. Traditions have a way of assisting us in keeping in mind, the times and seasons, yet what they often don’t do is keep us connected to truth and life.
While reflecting on this coming Easter I was once again struck by Friday, and the price, the penalty, the pain and yes the purpose. Yet what arose in me more than the death of Christ, and truly my gratitude goes deep, and in no way do I minimize Friday. Yet when I think and look to Sunday I think of and am excited, thrilled and over awed at…… LIFE.
It reflects our joy in the Resurrection of Jesus and his appearances among his followers. He calls Mary Magdalene by name, he bestows his peace in an Upper Room, he breaks bread with two companions at an inn in Emmaus, and he prepares breakfast for the disciples, weary from a long night of fishing. Recently Bridget and I had the privilege of being in Israel, and time stopped for us as we partook of fish caught in the Sea of Galilee, prepared whole as they would have done 2000 years ago, and ate it with bread. It is Talapia of course, but is commonly known as St Peter’s fish. what an amazing experience, eating the same fish with bread that Jesus caught and cooked for his fellow disciples. The tangible presence of Christ was evident.
In all these encounters there is a greeting and a recognition, that it is the Lord who is among them. Today He is among us.
He has given us a message, a mandate and we have been commissioned to spread the Life of Christ, a risen savior, what a glorious weekend. When we greet each other this weekend, let us utter these words with reverence, with excitement, and as this was the bridge that Christ built for man to enter heaven, let us be bridge builders for the kingdom, a loud exuberant declaration “ HE IS INDEED RISEN”