DYING, RISING AND LIVING
Reflections on Easter Sunday
Easter for me was frilly dresses, lacy socks, white patent leather Mary Jane shoes and a Easter bonnet. My family gathered at Grandma and Grandpa’s farm for a huge lunch where we were scattered out in three rooms. There was never a table big enough for accommodate all of us. After lunch we had our Easter egg hunt with all the cousins followed by dividing out our treasures and swapping out with one another the candy we didn’t like for something we did like. We yes played nice and shared, it was how we were raised. It was always a day filled with laughter, games and fun.
German immigrants brought the Easter hare/rabbit to America in the 1700’s, with the hare/rabbit delivering colored eggs in a basket. Over time the tradition grew to involve candy, chocolates and other treats in the 19th and 20th centuries. And as you can tell by going into just about any store recently that it’s goes beyond just baskets and candy.
But before we went to my Grandparents farm, we went to church. Because for my family, Easter wasn’t just about pretty clothes, baskets and candy. It was about Jesus’s resurrection, the rising from the tomb.
Matthew 28:1-2
Early on Sunday morning, as the new day was dawning , Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to visit the tomb.
Suddenly there was a great earthquake! For an angel of the Lord came down from heaven, rolled aside the stone and sat on it.
Matthew 28:5
Then the angel spoke to the women, “Don’t be afraid” he said. “I know you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified. He isn’t here! He is risen from the dead, just as he said would happen. Come, see where his body was laying.”
So we know, Jesus died, went to the grave and conquered it, he defeated death. In dying freed us from our sins and by his rising from the grave he shall have eternal life and so shall we.
Jesus rose victorious and shared his triumph with us, his followers. He accompanies us daily through every challenge, frustration, trial, and obstacle, guiding us to our own victory. While it’s not always an easy path, we’ve all faced moments when we wanted to give up, saying, “No, I can’t do this anymore,” “It’s too hard,” or “The burden is too heavy.” Jesus never laid down his cross, and I’m sure after all he endured, he would have wished he could. He understood God’s plan and knew that on the third day, he would see victory.
One day, you’ll look back in awe, recognizing all that God has helped you achieve and overcome. You’ll understand each obstacle you faced. He has prepared the way for us and helped us achieve our own victory. All we have to do is follow him.
John 14:6
“I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one can come to the Father except through me.
Are you living your best life? Are you taking actions to demonstrate your worthiness to Jesus for his sacrifice? Just because we’ve been given the gift of eternal life doesn’t mean we squander it. Yes, Jesus forgives our sins, but does that mean we continue sinning? Sadly, some do, likely because they haven’t accepted Jesus into their lives. Or perhaps they have, but they’ve fallen from his grace. We can’t know what goes on in others’ minds, but we can pray for them so they can find their way back to Jesus.
There are certain Bible passages that highlight the significance of performing good deeds and adhering to God’s Commandments. The central message conveyed is that salvation and eternal life are bestowed upon us freely through our faith in Jesus Christ, rather than being earned through our own merits. However, does this imply that we cannot engage in acts of goodness in our daily lives? Of course not! Performing acts of kindness and generosity is more of a personal reward for ourselves, a testament to the goodness within our hearts. We are halfway through the 40-day journey of the Acts of Kindness. How are you progressing with this challenge? Have you noticed that the more you participate, the easier it becomes to perform other random acts of kindness? Reflect on how it feels to discover that even simple gestures like holding the door open and offering a few kind words to someone can brighten their day and make a significant impact on their life.
Let’s share joy today, a joy that Jesus rose from the dead so we might live.
Psalms 66:1-2
Shout joyful praises to God all the earth!
Sing about the glory of his name! Tell the world how glorious he is.
Easter for me was frilly dresses, lacy socks, white patent leather Mary Jane shoes and a Easter bonnet. My family gathered at Grandma and Grandpa’s farm for a huge lunch where we were scattered out in three rooms. There was never a table big enough for accommodate all of us. After lunch we had our Easter egg hunt with all the cousins followed by dividing out our treasures and swapping out with one another the candy we didn’t like for something we did like. We yes played nice and shared, it was how we were raised. It was always a day filled with laughter, games and fun.
German immigrants brought the Easter hare/rabbit to America in the 1700’s, with the hare/rabbit delivering colored eggs in a basket. Over time the tradition grew to involve candy, chocolates and other treats in the 19th and 20th centuries. And as you can tell by going into just about any store recently that it’s goes beyond just baskets and candy.
But before we went to my Grandparents farm, we went to church. Because for my family, Easter wasn’t just about pretty clothes, baskets and candy. It was about Jesus’s resurrection, the rising from the tomb.
Matthew 28:1-2
Early on Sunday morning, as the new day was dawning , Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to visit the tomb.
Suddenly there was a great earthquake! For an angel of the Lord came down from heaven, rolled aside the stone and sat on it.
Matthew 28:5
Then the angel spoke to the women, “Don’t be afraid” he said. “I know you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified. He isn’t here! He is risen from the dead, just as he said would happen. Come, see where his body was laying.”
So we know, Jesus died, went to the grave and conquered it, he defeated death. In dying freed us from our sins and by his rising from the grave he shall have eternal life and so shall we.
Jesus rose victorious and shared his triumph with us, his followers. He accompanies us daily through every challenge, frustration, trial, and obstacle, guiding us to our own victory. While it’s not always an easy path, we’ve all faced moments when we wanted to give up, saying, “No, I can’t do this anymore,” “It’s too hard,” or “The burden is too heavy.” Jesus never laid down his cross, and I’m sure after all he endured, he would have wished he could. He understood God’s plan and knew that on the third day, he would see victory.
One day, you’ll look back in awe, recognizing all that God has helped you achieve and overcome. You’ll understand each obstacle you faced. He has prepared the way for us and helped us achieve our own victory. All we have to do is follow him.
John 14:6
“I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one can come to the Father except through me.
Are you living your best life? Are you taking actions to demonstrate your worthiness to Jesus for his sacrifice? Just because we’ve been given the gift of eternal life doesn’t mean we squander it. Yes, Jesus forgives our sins, but does that mean we continue sinning? Sadly, some do, likely because they haven’t accepted Jesus into their lives. Or perhaps they have, but they’ve fallen from his grace. We can’t know what goes on in others’ minds, but we can pray for them so they can find their way back to Jesus.
There are certain Bible passages that highlight the significance of performing good deeds and adhering to God’s Commandments. The central message conveyed is that salvation and eternal life are bestowed upon us freely through our faith in Jesus Christ, rather than being earned through our own merits. However, does this imply that we cannot engage in acts of goodness in our daily lives? Of course not! Performing acts of kindness and generosity is more of a personal reward for ourselves, a testament to the goodness within our hearts. We are halfway through the 40-day journey of the Acts of Kindness. How are you progressing with this challenge? Have you noticed that the more you participate, the easier it becomes to perform other random acts of kindness? Reflect on how it feels to discover that even simple gestures like holding the door open and offering a few kind words to someone can brighten their day and make a significant impact on their life.
Let’s share joy today, a joy that Jesus rose from the dead so we might live.
Psalms 66:1-2
Shout joyful praises to God all the earth!
Sing about the glory of his name! Tell the world how glorious he is.
Recent
Archive
Categories
no categories