From The Pastor

Easter Mediation and reflection:

 

To approach Easter we must journey through the final week of Jesus’ life, commonly called “Holy Week” that leads to the crucifixion.  The day of the crucifixion was a dark day for all of humanity. We had taken the life of one who was the Savior of the world, who was without sin. Yet, he was tried as a common criminal and sentenced to die upon the cross.

 

As the nails are driven, the shouting ceases, but begins again after the nails are in.  The crowd begins to shout at Jesus, taunting him with his own miracles:

 

 “He saved others, himself he cannot save.”

 “Miracle man, come down from the cross and we will believe.”

 “You would build the temple in three days? You have nails, but no hammer!”  Shouting drowns out the words: “Forgive them, for they know not what they do.”

 One crucified thief mocks Christ, while the other puts his faith in Jesus.

 Jesus dies with a shout of victory: “It is finished!”

 

It was a sad day for the entire world and if the story ended here if would have been a travesty. However, God would not be defeated. He took this travesty and turned it into a miracle.  “While we were yet sinners Christ died for us”, that proves God’s love for us. His body was broken, his blood was shed that we might have life and have it more abundantly. And Easter is the exclamation mark of this love. Yes, Easter is truly a day of celebration for all who bow at the name of Jesus. The Master has defeated the powers of death, decay and destruction. He is alive for evermore.

 

Many years ago, Rev. Robert Barnes was serving at a church in Philadelphia. The church had just bought a nearby lot on which to expand their parking lot. A small patch of Easter lilies had been growing in the lot for the last few years.  The paving company came in and bulldozed the lilies. Next, they poured the asphalt, then bulldozed over that. Soon, the congregation was using the new parking lot.  However, the following spring, they began to notice something strange going on. The pavement in the new

parking lot was starting to buckle and crack. Sure enough, the Easter lilies were poking up through the asphalt. (1)

 

You can bury life in the ground, but eventually it will spring up once again. Life is stronger than death. And love is stronger than hate. Moreover, because God loves us, God brought Jesus back from the dead to show us that nothing can separate us from the love of Christ, not even death.  So now faith, hope, and love abide, these three until Christ comes again in final victory,

 

Steven