It is Still Easter!

There is a drawback to annual celebrations and events in our lives. That drawback is when we allow those events to develop into a mindset that they only occur “that one time” in the year. Not so!

For example, Thanksgiving is an annual national holiday, but we should be thankful every day and be mindful of the poor and hungry every day. The same is true with Easter. Yes, the literal resurrection of Jesus happened “once,” but the significance of that event should be recognized and lived out every single day. We are a “resurrection people” and should live out and express our beliefs joyfully each day.

One of the ways to “live out” our joy of Easter is to remember that the risen Christ is always with us, not just on Easter and not just when we’re in church on Sunday. He died and rose so that he could live within us and be close to us at all times. But just as Mary had difficulty recognizing Jesus in the garden (John 20:11-18), we often fail to notice that the Lord is with us in concrete, real-life ways.

Now that we understand that Easter isn’t “just once a year” in the Spring, we need to ask ourselves “what would happen if we expected and anticipated “seeing” the Lord on a regular basis? Where might you recognize his presence and how he is working in your life?

Perhaps:

• When you have been praying for something for a long time, and your prayer is answered in a way you didn’t expect.

• When a Scripture verse or a particular verse in a Hymn strikes you in a totally new way and helps you get through a difficult circumstance.

• When you are able to forgive someone who has hurt you deeply.

• When you realize you need to correct a bad habit, and you are able to do so.

• When you and your spouse are finally able to see eye to eye on a touchy issue that has caused conflict in the past.

• When you see someone who is hurting or needy and are able to help that person.

Of course, this isn’t an exhaustive list. God is infinitely creative in the times and ways he reveals himself. So, as you go through your day, begin to anticipate and even expect him to “show up” each day.

Then try to keep your eyes open for his presence. You may just be surprised at how often he is part of every detail and concern of your life. May we just quickly pray, like Mary, “Jesus, open my eyes so that I can tell others, ‘I have seen the Lord.’”

Tetelestai!

Just before Jesus gives up His spirit on the cross, He utters a very powerful word. The word that He cries out is “ tetelestai” (tih-tellis-tie). When literally translated, this word means, “It is finished.” It can also refer to something completed or accomplished. The word occurs in John 19:28 and 19:30 and these are the only two places in all of the New Testament where it is found. In the John19:28 passage, it is translated, “After this, when Jesus knew that all things were now completed , in order that the scripture might be fulfilled, he said, ‘I thirst.’” Two verses later, he utters the word himself: “Then when he received the sour wine Jesus said, ‘ It is finished ,’ and he bowed his head and gave up his spirit.” Did you know that the word tetelestai was also written on business documents or receipts in New Testament times to show indicating that a bill had been paid in full? The Greek-English lexicon (by Moulton and Milligan) sa...

The 50-Days of Easter

Jesus rose from the dead. Period! He is alive. We are “easter people” and live daily as proof that He is risen from the dead. He did walk out of the grave. He conquered death. Jesus not only came back to life, but He stayed on earth to be seen by many witness. 1 Corinthians 15:5-8 , “ He was seen by Peter and then by the Twelve. After that, he was seen by more than 500 of his followers at one time, most of whom are still alive, though some have died. Then he was seen by James and later by all the apostles. Last of all, as though I had been born at the wrong time, I also saw him.” After the resurrection, Jesus spent forty days on earth before He ascended back to His rightful place (1 Peter 3:22), and then there were ten more days after that before the Day of Pentecost (Acts 2:1-47). Jesus accomplished many things in this time between His resurrection and return to Heaven. One of the most important was actually a command to us. We refer to this impor...

Not Rejected

I think we could spend hours, if not days, in just the sixth chapter of John’s Gospel. If there is one thing that is made clear in this writing is that God is passionately pursuing us and bidding us to have a relationship with Him that is restored by His Son, Jesus. There is one verse, in particular, that stands out to me. John 6:37 , “However, those the Father has given me will come to me, and I will never reject them.” Those that come to Jesus will never be rejected. If you come to Jesus, just as you are now, he will not turn you away. He gladly welcomes you to come to him. It is not God’s design or plan that we live separated from Him. He makes the way for that relationship to happen. He initiated the plan. He paid the price. He gives freely. He gives us free-will to choose or reject that offer of reconciliation through Jesus, His Son. God makes His intent clear: Ezekiel 33:11 , “As surely as I live, says the Sovereign Lord, I take no pleasure in the ...

Clever Free Methodist

Search This Blog