As my pastor said, because of the Easter effect we have victory, God can take care of all our dark Fridays and the resurrection means everything to us! Because of the Easter effect we have victory. Matthew 28: 2, “There was a violent earthquake, for an angel of the Lord came down from heaven and, going to the tomb, rolled back the stone and sat on it.” Because of the Easter effect, we will have a new body! Romans 8: 11, “And if the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead is living in you, he who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies because of his Spirit who lives in you.” Because of the Easter effect God can take care of all our dark Fridays! "The resurrection means everything to us”!
We have been on a spiritual journey from Ash Wednesday to Good Friday. We have been preparing our hearts and focusing on the cross and now rejoicing on Easter Sunday over Jesus’ victory over death. As we say in church, “Christ is risen! Christ is risen indeed!” This Easter season God has brought new reflections to me regarding Mark 16: 1-3 and John 20:1, both Easter verses.
Mark 16: 1-3, "Now when the Sabbath was past, Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James, and Salome bought spices, that they might come and anoint Him. Very early in the morning, on the first day of the week, they came to the tomb when the sun had risen. And they said among themselves, 'Who will roll away the stone from the door of the tomb for us?'" My first thought is I never thought about Mary Magdalene coming up to the tomb with her spices, wondering who would move the stone. This stone was a big wheel chiseled from rock. It had to be rolled, by several people, in front of the tomb. It would take the same to move it away. If that had been Jill going to the tomb she would have been so concerned with that big obstacle, maybe even keeping her up the night before. Finally she might realize that God's ways are not her ways. Isaiah 55: 8-9, "'For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,' declares the Lord. 'As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.'" Mark 16: 4, "But when they looked up, they saw that the stone had been rolled away—for it was very large. And entering the tomb, they saw a young man clothed in a long white robe sitting on the right side; and they were alarmed." Not only was the stone rolled away but there was an angel sitting on it! God's ways are not our ways! We all face huge obstacles in our lives and what a reminder this is that we have someone who can move them for us!
This year I have looked at this verse in John differently. John 20: 1, “Now the first day of the week Mary Magdalene went to the tomb early, while it was still dark, and saw that the stone had been taken away from the tomb.” I love how John gives us a specific day in history, a time and a witness. Of all the ways the resurrection could be played out isn’t it wonderful that not only were we given a date, a time and a witness but it happened on earth’s soil? It happened in our time. He knew we needed this to help us try to comprehend this miracle. He loves us so much that we are always being thought of! That was the day that changed everything. Jesus was dead but now He is alive forever! Easter is not over! Let’s celebrate! Take time to praise God that Jesus is alive! Continue saying, “Christ is risen! He is risen indeed!” And, “Christ WILL come again!”
The Easter Season begins on Easter Day and ends on Pentecost. We focus on Jesus’ resurrection and ascension and the sending of the Holy Spirit (Pentecost). This season should be the most joyous and celebrated season of the Christian year. We have great news to share that in Jesus’ death and resurrection we are made new by His love and saving grace!
The world is waking up after a long winter! Easter is not over! Let’s share this good news with others! Because the resurrection means everything to us, we are Easter people and Hallelujah is our song!