I think I've finally recovered from Easter Sunday—well the whole Holy Week!
Don't get me wrong—it's a delight to celebrate what Jesus did for us the last week of his life on this planet. Like the crowds waiting for him to enter Jerusalem as the King, we cheer and celebrate. But also like the crowds, when Jesus doesn't meet our expectations, we can move from cheering to denying, betraying, or forsaking.
And then there's that awful Friday—awful for him, yet Good Friday for you and me. He was abandoned by his Father and his followers. But because of “joy set before him” he endured that cross. “By his stripes we are healed.”
We rejoiced this past Sunday—not because of the crowded sanctuary, not even because of the baptisms, certainly not because of the sermon—but because Jesus is alive! The Lord is risen! He is risen indeed!
As I reflect back on these past few days, I rejoice not that we had a great attendance, not that we had a powerful spirit of celebration. No, I rejoice that “Jesus paid it all.” The “sting of death” has been removed. The “victory of the grave” was snatched away by the triumph of Jesus who walked out of the tomb.
Hallelujah!
Don't get me wrong—it's a delight to celebrate what Jesus did for us the last week of his life on this planet. Like the crowds waiting for him to enter Jerusalem as the King, we cheer and celebrate. But also like the crowds, when Jesus doesn't meet our expectations, we can move from cheering to denying, betraying, or forsaking.
And then there's that awful Friday—awful for him, yet Good Friday for you and me. He was abandoned by his Father and his followers. But because of “joy set before him” he endured that cross. “By his stripes we are healed.”
We rejoiced this past Sunday—not because of the crowded sanctuary, not even because of the baptisms, certainly not because of the sermon—but because Jesus is alive! The Lord is risen! He is risen indeed!
As I reflect back on these past few days, I rejoice not that we had a great attendance, not that we had a powerful spirit of celebration. No, I rejoice that “Jesus paid it all.” The “sting of death” has been removed. The “victory of the grave” was snatched away by the triumph of Jesus who walked out of the tomb.
Hallelujah!
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