Because He lives, we shall live also
April 4, 2010 (Easter Sunday)
Holy Week ends with Holy Saturday. Today is a brand new day.
Early in the morning on the first day of the week, they came to anoint the dead body of Jesus. They wondered how they were going to be able to move the great stone that had been placed over the entrance, but when they arrived, they found the stone rolled away. They saw angels asking, “Why do you seek the living among the dead? He is not here. He is risen as He promised!” Jesus Christ is alive.
Early Christians greeted each other by saying, “The Lord is risen.” The reply was, “He is risen indeed.”
Every Sunday we celebrate the resurrection of Jesus. Early Jewish Christians celebrated the Sabbath, then worshiped with fellow Christians on the first day of the week, Sunday. Every week when we gather together for worship on Sunday, we are saying, “He lives!”
The word, “Easter,” is of pagan origins, but it has passed over into our vocabulary as a word all its own with a distinctively Christian meaning as “Resurrection Day.” If we rid ourselves of all pagan words and influences, we are going to be terribly confused and we’re going to have to cease saying January, etc. or Monday, etc. because those words have pagan origins as well.
Enough of that. This is the greatest day of the year for Christians. One great thing that happens is that some people go to church on Easter Sunday that never go to church at all. Were it not for this special day, they never would be seen at church. Hopefully, their visit will mean something to them and will result in their being blessed and helped. Who knows? It may even be a turning point in their lives. That’s what we pray for. There are also folks at church on Easter who have become semi-active members and this could be the start of renewal for them. So, yes, I’m glad to see new faces in church on Easter.
“He lives! He lives! Christ Jesus lives today. He walks with me and talks with me along life’s weary way. He lives! He lives! Salvation to impart. You ask me how I know He lives? He lives within my heart!” Amen and Amen.
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Read John 20:1-31