It’s that time of year again. Christians everywhere are celebrating. For some, this Sunday may be one of the few times they join a congregation of believers for worship. Many of our friends and acquaintances may wonder what all the fuss is about. Is this just a time to wear new clothes, hide and hunt candy surprises, die and decorate eggs? Or is there something else that prompts us to sing those wonderful traditional songs?
Easter has changed since I was a youngster. In the Lutheran church where I was raised, it was the culmination of the Lenten season.
Weekly Wednesday night services reminded us of the love our Heavenly Father has for us, and of the perfect sacrifice He had planned. We learned of his incredible, incomprehensible love for us, leading up to Jesus’ suffering, death and resurrection.
The most memorable part of the celebration for me happened on Good Friday. Our minister presented a reading of the gospel account of the crucifixion. The trappings of the season were all gone. The alter was bare, except for the cross, which was adorned with a crown of thorns and a black drape. As our pastor’s reading of the last words of Christ concluded, the sanctuary was lit only by a single candle on the lectern. After the climactic words from the cross, “It is Finished”, the Bible our pastor read from was slammed shut, extinguishing the candle. I remember the overwhelming silence of the moment. There were no words, no gasps, no noise at all. From somewhere behind us, a light came on so that the congregation could see well enough to silently file out. On the front steps of the building, tears streamed down my cheeks as we walked to the car. I’d heard this same story many times, but that night, the enormity of God’s love hit my heart.
At about the same time, I learned enough about the Christian walk to become a confirmed member of the Church. This picture was taken on confirmation Sunday, with my Granny and my sister. Easter Sunday was not the only time we celebrated together. Weekly worship became part of our lives. For my mom, my sister and me, the congregation became a second family.
When I met and fell in love with my now husband, I started attending weekly worship at the Church of Christ. Each Sunday included communion, as a commemoration of Jesus’s life, death and resurrection. So, Easter services were much the same as the rest of the year. Now, we concentrated our celebration on spending time with family and developing traditions with our children. They learned that Easter as a holiday was every bit as important to Christians as Christmas was.
Nowadays, as springtime brings new life to the world, I relish the renewal of hope that Easter brings. The landscape of Arkansas is fresh and colorful after months of dull grayness.
The message of Easter is that God loved us so much, He sent His only son to redeem us from sin once and for all. No matter what happens in our lives, we have the opportunity to turn away from sin, to live a new life with Jesus at the center. Then, at the end of our earthly life, we can live with Him forever.
Just like the freshness of springtime, the promise of God is new every morning. Jesus paid the price for us on the cross. We only need to accept His gift. As the scripture says, “Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.” Acts 2:38 NKJV
From childhood, I was impressed by the sadness of Good Friday. I imagine that the disciples must have experienced the lowest day of their lives on the Saturday that followed it. They had given their all to following Jesus. Now, after being betrayed by one of their former friends, He had been executed unjustly. They must have been impossibly discouraged, with no idea what their lives would be like in the future.
Then, Sunday. As the news spread that Jesus was alive, they must have been overjoyed. There was hard work ahead, to spread the news over all of the world, but the difference between the sadness of Saturday and the excitement of Sunday must have been incredible.
The same happiness is offered to all of us! Let the truth of Easter bring you joy today and every day. God loves you so much!
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