Celebrating Easter
It seems appropriate that we contemplate all that happened to our Savior between Palm Sunday and Resurrection Day. Betrayal, intense suffering, cruel crucifixion, dying willingly for us. Then He arose! Let’s shout our praises for that blessing!
Prayer:
Lord, how I love this marvelous season when we celebrate Your resurrection. Thank You, Jesus, for Your willingness to die on the cross for my sins. And thank You for coming back from death to give us new life. I regret how so many people focus on bunnies, Easter eggs and chocolates instead of on You.
Lord, I want to keep Your sacrifice of love and the miracle of Your resurrection foremost in my heart. Give me opportunities to share with others the true significance of Resurrection Sunday. Because You arose from the dead, Satan’s defeat is certain, and the curse of the law of sin and death is broken [see Romans 8:2; 1 John 3:8]. What a blessing to be able to celebrate with my family and church friends as we greet one another: “He is risen! He is risen indeed!” All praise, honor and glory belong to You, our risen Savior, Amen.1
Each Easter I like to hear again that great hymn that Charles Wesley wrote over 280 years ago titled, “Christ the Lord is Risen Today.”
The first stanzas:
“Christ the Lord is risen today, Alleluia!
Sons of men and angels say, Alleluia!
Raise your joys and triumphs high, Alleluia!
Sing, ye heavens, and earth, reply, Alleluia!
Lives again our glorious King, Alleluia!
Where, O death, is now thy sting? Alleluia!
Once He died our souls to save, Alleluia!
Where thy victory, O grave? Alleluia!” 2
Scriptures:
The angel said to the women, “Do not be afraid, for I know that you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified. He is not here; he has risen, just as he said. Come and see the place where he lay. Then go quickly and tell his disciples: ‘He has risen from the dead and is going ahead of you into Galilee. There you will see him.’ Now I have told you.” (Matthew 28:5-7)
So the women hurried away from the tomb, afraid yet filled with joy, and ran to tell his disciples. Suddenly Jesus met them. “Greetings,” he said. They came to him, clasped his feet and worshiped him. Then Jesus said to them, “Do not be afraid. Go and tell my brothers to go to Galilee; there they will see me.” (Mathew 28:8-10)
1.Quin Sherrer and Ruthanne Garlock, Warfare Prayers For Women (Minneapolis, Minn,. Chosen Books, 2020) 88.
2. Charles Wesley, “Christ the Lord Is Risen Today,” 1739, hymn is public domain.
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