It is Easter Again!

Then the other disciple, who had reached the tomb first, also went in, and he saw and believed; John 20:8 ESV

I like the conflicted kind of faith that John had because it is so much like my own. After all, he had not seen a vision of angels as the women had, nor seen Jesus Himself as did Mary Magdalene. John had not had the chance to walk with Jesus to Emmaus or see Him vanish as He broke the bread. All John had in his hands was an empty burial shroud, yet that slim shard of evidence stirred within him the words that Jesus had spoken, “and after three days I will rise again.” and John believed.

I love this simple disciple, who never even ventures to name himself, though we know from the early accounts that it is John. He is so much like us, on this Easter morning. Not one of us has literally heard the Savior’s voice, nor touched His wounds as Thomas did. We hold only copies of the words His followers wrote, are stirred by the whispers of the Holy Spirit in our hearts, and yet it is enough! The miracle of God’s gift, and the faith He stirs within us, fills us with joy. It is Easter again! We have received the amazing good news with what seems to others only a few shreds of evidence. Together we have become brothers and sisters with John and everyone else who has believed in Jesus for 2,000 years. Happy Resurrection Day! It is Easter Again! He is risen indeed!

Jesus is Not Under Quarentine!

We can no longer gather at our church. Small group meetings have been cancelled. Our lives have been put on hold and one knows when this will be over. But as Easter approaches God’s word had good news for our souls: His answers to our prayers are not under quarentine!

God is neither limited in His ability to come to our rescue nor is He worried about how long our situation will continue. He wants us to be encouraged because just as the Roman guards could not prevent Jesus from rising from the dead so also no disease, no job loss or social upheaval can stop His work in our hearts.

No media reports, no public scoffing, no military attack can ever separate us from God’s promises. Jesus didn’t just suffer unjustly and helplessly die. No! But through the cross He defeated forever the one who brought death and destruction into the world and secured forever our freedom. No one is like Him because Jesus is not under quarentine!