Now on the first day of the week Mary Magdalene came to the tomb early, while it was still dark, and saw that the stone had been taken away from the tomb.
- John 20:1 (ESV)
Today we come to the end of an eight day stretch of North Florida Writer blogs on Holy Week and the joyous conclusion of our story on Easter Sunday. The Greatest Story Ever Told is indeed joyous at its conclusion, but it has brought with it joy, suffering, pain, confusion, and so much more in the hearts of Christians as they try to recreate in their minds exactly what it must have been like to witness the first Easter Week experience.
Try and imagine what was going through Mary's mind when she walked to the tomb in the early morning and found the stone removed. And imagine the disbelief and joy of the Disciples and others close to the Living Christ when they fully realized that He was indeed alive. All of the actions that happened on Resurrection Day as well as throughout Jesus' earthly life were part of God's grand plan. We have been given plenty of evidence of His life and the miraculous works that He performed and the extensive teachings about truth and the way to live that He delivered. And yes, even His death on the Cross gave the story a solid baseline for believing it if we only open our hearts and have faith.
We can't believe the story based on what modern man calls science, for God deliberately left enough mystery so that only through faith can you understand and accept it as the truth that leads to Everlasting Life. And this doesn't mean that you won't ever have doubts, but it does provide what you need to eliminate those doubts. Even the Disciples had questions, none graver than the day before Easter when they were so lost and desperate without Him. And Jesus even told them that those who believe in Him without physically witnessing the events, that's all of us living today, will be especially blessed. Believing on faith is what brings that to us.
Rather than repeat the story of this day, each of us should take time to read it and savor the majesty and the glory of what took place. I particularly like the presentations in both Luke and John, but the story is Divine in whichever Gospel you might choose. As you read it, ponder what your life would be like had He not done what He did for us and how much He deserves for us to put Him first in our lives. It's not easy in a secular society, but it is what He expects. And if we do, we can expect the greatest life ever. Oh, we may not be wealthy in human terms or live a life without struggles; he doesn't promise us that. But what He does promise if we stay true to Him is Everlasting Life and it will be so magnificent that we can't humanly imagine it's wonders. Now that's something to look forward to, but only if we have faith and believe.
Happy Easter, for there is no greater blessing than knowing that HE LIVES.
- John 20:1 (ESV)
Today we come to the end of an eight day stretch of North Florida Writer blogs on Holy Week and the joyous conclusion of our story on Easter Sunday. The Greatest Story Ever Told is indeed joyous at its conclusion, but it has brought with it joy, suffering, pain, confusion, and so much more in the hearts of Christians as they try to recreate in their minds exactly what it must have been like to witness the first Easter Week experience.
Try and imagine what was going through Mary's mind when she walked to the tomb in the early morning and found the stone removed. And imagine the disbelief and joy of the Disciples and others close to the Living Christ when they fully realized that He was indeed alive. All of the actions that happened on Resurrection Day as well as throughout Jesus' earthly life were part of God's grand plan. We have been given plenty of evidence of His life and the miraculous works that He performed and the extensive teachings about truth and the way to live that He delivered. And yes, even His death on the Cross gave the story a solid baseline for believing it if we only open our hearts and have faith.
We can't believe the story based on what modern man calls science, for God deliberately left enough mystery so that only through faith can you understand and accept it as the truth that leads to Everlasting Life. And this doesn't mean that you won't ever have doubts, but it does provide what you need to eliminate those doubts. Even the Disciples had questions, none graver than the day before Easter when they were so lost and desperate without Him. And Jesus even told them that those who believe in Him without physically witnessing the events, that's all of us living today, will be especially blessed. Believing on faith is what brings that to us.
Rather than repeat the story of this day, each of us should take time to read it and savor the majesty and the glory of what took place. I particularly like the presentations in both Luke and John, but the story is Divine in whichever Gospel you might choose. As you read it, ponder what your life would be like had He not done what He did for us and how much He deserves for us to put Him first in our lives. It's not easy in a secular society, but it is what He expects. And if we do, we can expect the greatest life ever. Oh, we may not be wealthy in human terms or live a life without struggles; he doesn't promise us that. But what He does promise if we stay true to Him is Everlasting Life and it will be so magnificent that we can't humanly imagine it's wonders. Now that's something to look forward to, but only if we have faith and believe.
Happy Easter, for there is no greater blessing than knowing that HE LIVES.
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