Overjoyed: Easter

OVERJOYED

Experiencing the Hope of Jesus’ Resurrection

Editor’s Letter

Easter is the time when we thank Jesus for His resurrection power. The same Spirit thatliftedJesusoutofthegraveabidesinus.InthebookofRevelation,weseeJohn fall down to worship an angel (19:10) The angel quickly corrects John and tells Him that only Jesus is worthy of worship because he (the angel) is John’s fellowservant and carries the same testimony as John. The angel then reveals one of the most powerful pieces of information in the whole Bible, “...for the testimony of Jesus is the spiritofprophecy.”

Because Jesus overcame death, we too can overcome. His victory gives us a place to prophesy over our lives, over situations, and over the whole world. Jesus has made us kings and priests who reveal His glory on earth (Revelation 1:6). It was an angelwhorolledthestoneaway Thenwhatdidthatangeldo?Matthew28:2tellsus, “And, behold, there was a great earthquake: for the angel of the Lord descended from heaven, and came and rolled back the stone from the door, and sat upon it.” The angel sat on the stone and waited for prophecy to be fulfilled. He waited for joy to wash over the ones who would see the empty tomb, and he waits today as we waitfortheredemptionofthebodyofChrist. PutyourhopeinJesus-Hehasalready overcometheworld.

These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.

John 16:33

Ineverything,always,moreJesus,

AshleyEnnis

Butnowbeingmadefree fromsin,andbecome servantstoGod,yehave yourfruituntoholiness,and theendeverlastinglife.

ROMANS6:22

an act of love

This Easter I was thinking about Nicodemus. That may seem strange but when we read about him in John chapter 3, Nicodemus came to Jesus by night to find out who he was. He had questions. He wanted to know if Jesus was the promised Messiah. He asked questions. When Jesus responded "Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God." He wasstrugglingtocomprehendthismessage. He asked, "How can these things be?" Jesus gave him an explanation including the famous verse, John 3:16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish,buthaveeverlastinglife.Weneedthis message.Thisisthegoodnews.

Jesus came to save this world. He came knowing the outcome of his life. He knew he would die on that cross in excruciating physical pain. He bore all our sins and suffered. We don't have an explanation of what Nicodemus thought about that message He was so worried about his reputation in John chapter three that he came secretly and did not want anyone to know he was talking with Jesus. We get to hear about Nicodemus once again in John chapter19.Jesushadbeencrucifiedandhad died. Joseph of Arimathaea asked for his body and in verse 19 "And there came also Nicodemus, which at the first came to Jesus bynight,andbroughtamixtureofmyrrhand aloes,aboutanhundredpoundweight."

Nicodemus does not seem embarrassed any longer to be of service to Jesus. I wonder if he believed in Jesus as the Messiah.

I think about the fear and worry of Nicodemus and how often I have been fearfulofsharingthegospelwithsomeone. Weallowfeartopreventourtestimony.We allow fear to hinder us from sharing the good news of Jesus to someone who may really need to know Jesus. Nicodemus was afraid at the beginning, but ended up appearing bold at a time that being a follower of Jesus could have meant death. He became bold in his care and love of Jesus.

I would love to know more about Nicodemus and his life But I do know that God recorded his act of love after the cross. God intended for us to know that Nicodemus did not continue in fear. We do notneedtobeafraidtosharethegospelof Jesus.ThegoodnewsthatHecametosave us! He loves us! He is with us and he empowers us to be the light to this world. Walk in boldness! Walk in the power we receive from the message that Jesus died and he rose again! He came to give us life and life more abundantly. What a great gift! Easter is the time to know and understand the greatest gift given to this world. Jesus came, died, rose again and livestodaytosaveus!

His righteousness

LindaDuvall

Romans 14:17 “For the kingdom of God is not meat and drink; but righteousness, peaceandjoyintheHolyGhost.”

Too many times people believe the lie of satan that they must “change some things before they can come to God”. I even thought the same thing before I found out the truth. The truth is, I cannot change myself, my nature nor my heart, onlyGodcanchangeme!

Oh, I could try not to cuss, I tried to be good,Itriedtoforgive;allofthesethingsI “tried” on my own. “I can do this!” I would tell myself, but I would only end up disappointed and frustrated in the end. And there are people everywhere that wantarealrelationshipwithGod,butthey just don’t feel “right” enough to come to theFather.Ifthatisyoutoday,letmehelp youwiththetruthofit!

God is not looking for a perfect, or even a good, performance from you. You don’t have to “do” everything just right in order for Him to love you! He loves you just as you are right now! Yes, that’s right! He lovesyoujustasyouarerightnow!

YoucanhavearealrelationshipwithGod because He wants you to have a relationship with Him, and He made the wayforyoudothatthroughHisSon,Jesus Christ!

Jesus came from the Father, was born ofawoman,grewupinthisworld,injust the same way you have. God loves you so much that He asked His Son if He would do this, and Jesus loved you enough to say, “Yes, Father, I will go, because I love You and them.” I will pay the requirements of the law - which is death for sin - and I will be THE WAY for eachpersontocomeintoarelationship with Father God. The only requirement needed is that you must believe Jesus Christ is the Son of God, that He came and gave Himself for you; He died for your sins, He arose from death to give youeternallifeandHISRIGHTEOUNESSis then given to you, placed in your heart by faith, and His righteousness then begins the work in you, giving you new desiresandchangingyournatureintoa brandnewyou!

Pleasedon’tconfuserighteousnesswith holiness - they are two separate things. Righteousness is what you areHoliness is what you do. God has declared you to be righteous (in right relationship with Him) through your acceptance of Jesus’ finished work Righteousness is NOT progressive. You are just as righteous this moment as you are ever going to be. Holiness, on theotherhand,ISprogressive.

To the extent that you are obedient to God through applying His Word in your life, then youarebeingtransformedintotheimageofHisSon-Jesus-inyouractions(whatyou do). Holiness has nothing to do with your right standing before God. If you will become establishedinrighteousness,thenrighteousnesswillpickyouupwhenyoufall,andkeep thedevilfrombeatingyouupwithcondemnation.

Godisstillonthethrone.Graceisnoterasedjustbecauseyoumessup.Godstilldeclares you righteous because of the blood of Jesus. The only thing required of you when you stumble and fall, is to repent (change your mind and direction) with sincerity of heart, andallowGodtohelpyouinforgiveness.Hedeclaresyourighteousasthebloodcovers youbygracethroughfaith,andissufficienttomeeteveryeviltendencyandsinyouhave committedorwillcommitthroughignorance,notwillfulness.

Realizenow,Iamnotpreaching,“youcandoanythingyouwanttoandGodwilllookover it”,absolutelyNOT!Iamjusttellingyoutostop“trying”tomakeyourselfright,andchange yourself,becauseyouareMADEnew,theoldthingshavepassedawayandALLthingsare new, in Christ Jesus. You see, YOU can’t change anything in your nature and heart, only God can. The only thing that is required of you is to submit yourself to Him. You have a part,andGodhasapart.HispartisFINISHEDinJesusChrist,yourpartistobelieveit!

EnjoyyoursalvationinJesusandenjoythefreedomfromguiltsinceHehaswashedyour sins away and reconciled you to the Father. You are restored, reformed and revived in Jesus!

joy unspeakable

JanisDuvall

“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to his abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead. for you, To an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you who are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. Whom having not seen, ye love; in whom, though nowyeseehimnot,yetbelieving,yerejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory: Receiving the end of your faith, even the salvationofyoursouls.”1Peter1:3-58-9

EverythingaboutEasterspeaksofnewness.

Newnessoflife.

Newnessofpurpose.

Newnessofspirit.

The very essence of the gospel in a nutshell.Wehavebeengivenanewlife. We have been given a new purpose and bestofallwehavebeengivenanewspirit.

TheBibletellsusinRomans6:4thatweare buried with him by baptism unto death: thatlikeasChristwasraisedfromthedead by the glory of the Father, even so we also shouldwalkin“newness”oflife.Andin2

Corinthians 5:17 Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature; old things are passed away and behold all things are become new. Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to his cross; And having spoiled principalitiesandpowers.Hemadeashewof themopenly,triumphingovertheminit.

The gospel of Jesus is that he died, was buried and he rose again! It is this very thought that makes Christianity different from other religions. Every other religion you can visit their tomb and see where they are buried but you can visit the tomb of Jesus and there is no one there! Because He was dead but now, He LIVES!! In Revelation Jesus says, I am he that liveth, and was dead; and Behold, I am alive for evermore, Amen. And havethekeysofhellandofdeath.

Deathisdead!!Whatathought!Nolongerdo we have to fear death because of the sacrificethatJesusgave.Deathisswallowed up in victory! O, death where is thy sting? O grave,whereisthyvictory?Thestingofdeath is sin; and the strength of sin is the law but thanksbetoGod,whichgivethusthevictory throughourLordJesusChrist.

“BecauseHelives,Icanfacetomorrow! BecauseHelivesallfearisgone BecauseIknowwhoholdsmyfuture, Andlifeisworththelivingbecause Helives”(excerptfromBecauseHeLives)

TheprophetIsiahsaiditlikethisinChapter25:8:

He will swallow up death in victory; and the Lord GODwillwipeawaytearsfromoffallfaces;andthe rebuke of his people shall he take away from off all theearth:fortheLORDhathspokenit.Anditshallbe saidinthatday,Lo,thisisourGod;wehavewaited for him, and he will save us: this is the LORD; we have waited for him, we will be glad and rejoice in hissalvation.

As we come upon this season of celebration, let us remember that because Jesus paid the price for our salvation, we are able now to enter into His presence without fear, we can have access to the Father through Jesus and we are now made new, andbywhomalsowehaveaccessbyfaithintothis grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God. We are made new by the blood of Christ, which He shed on Calvary and because he arose and defeated death, we are now given eternallifethroughhisresurrection.

Whatathought!Thatwewhoweredeadinoursins arenowabletobecalledtheSonsofGod.

Oh,thejoyofsinsforgiv’n, Oh,theblisstheblood-washedknow, Oh,thepeaceakintoHeav’n, Wherethehealingwatersflow.

Because of the cross we are forgiven, because of thegravewearesetfree Becauseoftheresurrectionwenowliveforever.

Beloved,keepyourselvesintheloveofGod,looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life. Now, unto him that is able to keep your from falling, and to present you faultless before the presenceofhisglorywithexceedingjoy,Totheonly wise God our Saviour, be glory and majesty, dominionandpower,bothnowandforever.Amen.

Look for yourself, and you will find in the long run only hatred, loneliness, despair, rage, ruin, and decay. But look for Christ, and you will find Him, and with Him everything else thrown in.

C.S. Lewis

rolling the stone away

CindyFields

WhenJesusdiedonthecross,anumberofthings happened all at once. In the temple, the curtain across the door into the Holy of Holies was rent –torn from top to bottom so that the doorway to Godwasliterallylefthangingopen.Nolongerwas only the high priest allowed to enter into God’s presence. Anyone willing to obey could now go intothatholiestofplaces.

Jesus cried, “It is finished!” (John 19:30). His mission to save the world, His ordeal, was over, complete And in that moment, the sky went black, the light of the world extinguished, as God turnedawaytomournthedeathofHischild.

Jesus didn’t want to die. The night before His crucifixion, He prayed fervently in Gethsemane to find another way – any other way – to accomplishHisgoal.“AndHewentalittlebeyond them [the apostles], and fell on His face and prayed, saying, “My Father, if it is possible, let this cuppassfromMe;yetnotasIwill,butasYouwill” (Matthew26:39).

Hewasinsuchdistress,infact,thattheBiblesays, “And being in agony He was praying very fervently; and His sweat became like drops of blood,fallingdownupontheground”(Luke22:44).

Many take this as symbolic, but there is indeed a medical condition which produces bloody sweat, a condition called Hemaditrosis, which is a rare occurrencecausedbyextremefearoragony.The sufferer is so deeply distressed by a fearful situation

thatthecapillariesaroundthesweat glands burst, causing a person to literally sweat blood Whether the reference in Luke is figurative or literal,Jesuswassufferingdeeply.He genuinelydidnotwanttogothrough the ordeal that was awaiting Him. AndGod,I’msure,didnotwanttokill His child, His only child. So why did GodallowJesustosufferso?

Because there was no other way for ustobefree.

Throughout the Bible, sacrifices were made – lambs, bulls, doves took the punishment that mankind accrued. But that wasn’t enough. “For it is impossibleforthebloodofbullsand goats to take away sins” (Hebrews 10:4). Only a perfect sacrifice would suffice–thepure,unstainedbloodof GodHimselfmadeflesh.

In the beginning, God created man and a paradise for him to live in. He gave him freewill to let him choose hisownpath,andmanfell;paradise was lost, and a life of pain and toil became our inheritance. And only God and His perfect sacrifice could giveparadisebacktous.

Thus, Jesus, the King of All Creation, the Son of the God, died so that we might live – live life eternal

How can we ever repay such a debt? How can weeverthankHimfortheagonyHesufferedon ourbehalf?

Allwecandoisobey–dowhatHetellsustodo: “Repent, and each of you be baptized in the nameofJesusChristfortheforgivenessofyour sins; and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit”(Acts2:38).

In baptism, we receive the blood that erases all of our sins. “Or do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus have been baptized into His death?” (Romans 6:3). Baptism symbolically represents Jesus’ death, burial, and resurrection. The etymology of the word “baptism” goes back to the Greek baptizo, whichmeans“immersion”or“overwhelmedwith water.” As we go down into the water, we’re dying to our past lives – dying as Jesus died. Being under the water represents Jesus’ burial. As we rise out of the water, we’re born anew –resurrectedasJesuswastoanewlife.Withthis obedience, we our sins are c as we remain continue to cle thatwouldoth

Jesus suffered such agony in order to save us. We can do naught but thank Him and obey, come to Him in humbleness and thanksgiving. As the EthiopianeunuchsaidtoPhilipafterhe “preached to him Jesus”: “Look! Water! What prevents me from being baptized?”(Acts8:38).

CometoHim.Hesavedus,buttohave your sins covered by His blood, you must believe, obey, repent and be baptized.

Just as He rolled away the stone and was resurrected, He gives us the chancetodothesame.

Andforever,wewillbewithHim.

Repent,andeachofyoube baptizedinthenameofJesus

Marylou Forrest

the returning

There'samovinginmyspirit

Deepdowninmysoul

IhearthevoiceofJesus

Liketheprophetstoldofold

Heiscomingbacksoon

Totakehischurchonhigh

Nowingswillbeneeded

Forthattripbeyondthesky

Willthechurchbeready?

OrwillitbelikeNoah'stime?

Willhefindthechurchinorder?

OrAsleepagainhe'llfind?

CometogetherwearyChristians

Stopsleepinginthepews

TheLordhasmadeheavenready

Towelcomemeandyou

Stepoutinthestreetsandinvitethem

Hewillfillthemwithhisspirit

Andfreethemoftheirsin

answer Him today

HeidiMcCullers

AswejourneythroughtheEasterseason, reflectingontheprofoundsacrificeofour Savior,JesusChrist,Iamcompelledto shareaglimpseofmyownstory.They saythatsharingourtestimonyisoneof themostpowerfulwaystowitnessto others,andduringthissacredtimeof year,Iamremindedofthesignificanceof doingjustthat.

MyjourneywithChristbeganintheloving embraceofparentswhowereministers, deeplyrootedintheirfaith.Raisedinthe church,Iwasblessedwithastrong foundationofGod'sloveandpresence. ThoughImaynothavealwayslivedupto theidealssetbeforeme,Ineverdoubted therealityofGod'sexistenceorHis unfailinglove.Itwasingrainedinevery fiberofmybeing.

AsImatured,myrelationshipwithChrist evolvedfromonemodeledaftermy parents'faithtoadeeplypersonal connection.Ivividlyrecallapivotal momentatarevivalintheFirstChurchof theNazareneinHutchinson,Kansas.With mychildrenbymyside,Ifoundmyself onceagainatthealtar,rededicatingmy lifetoChrist.ThoughIhadbeensaved,I realizedIwasstillclingingtomyown ways,hesitanttofullysurrendertoHiswill.

Astheministerspoke,itwasasifthewords weremeantsolelyforme."Itistime,"hesaid, "toputyourfaithandyourlifeentirelyinthe handsofJesus."Andinthatmoment, everythingchanged.Thirtyyearslater,Istill lookbackonthatdayasaturningpoint—a momentwhenJesusbecamenotjustthe Saviorofmyparents'faith,butmypersonal Savior,myRedeemer,andmyYahweh.

DuringthisEasterseason,Iextendan invitationtoeachofyoutodrawcloserto Jesus toquietthenoiseoftheworldand focusintentlyonHim.ForwithoutHim,lifeis devoidofmeaning;butwithHim,lifeis instilledwithpurposeandhope.Don'tdelay answerHimtoday.

Finally,brethren,whatsoever thingsaretrue,whatsoever thingsarehonest,whatsoever thingsarejust,whatsoeverthings arepure,whatsoeverthingsare lovely,whatsoeverthingsareof goodreport;iftherebeany virtue,andiftherebeanypraise, thinkonthesethings. Philippians4:8

ye are witnesses this day. And all the people that were in the gate, and the elders, said, We are witnesses. The Lord make the woman that is come into thine house like Rachel and like Leah, which two did build the house of Israel: and do thou worthily in Ephratah, and be famous in Bethlehem: And let thy house be like the house of Pharez, whom Tamar bare unto Judah, of the seed which the Lord shall give thee of this young woman. So Boaz took Ruth, and she was his wife: and when he went in unto her, the Lord gave her conception, and she bare a son. And the women said unto Naomi, Blessed be the Lord, which hath not left thee this day without a kinsman, that his name may be famous in Israel. And he shall be unto thee a restorer of thy life, and a nourisher of thine old age: for thy daughter in law, which loveth thee, which is better to thee than seven sons, hath born him. And Naomi took the child, and laid it in her bosom, and became nurse unto it. And the women her neighbours gave it a name, saying, There is a son born to Naomi; and they called his name Obed: he is the father of Jesse, the father of David.” Ruth 4:10-17

The Book of Ruth

AlleneDuvall

joy comes in the morning

What a sad day had closed the night before! Just a week ago happiness and celebration covered the town as Jesus entered; our bible explains how excited the people were at Jesus coming (Palm Sunday). Then a great turn of events happened just outside Jerusalem. (mark 15–Luke23-John19-andMatthew27).A nightmare began in the serene garden where Jesus had a heart wrenching conversation with our Father. Jesus gave Himself willingly knowing what was ahead. Knowing those who declared allegiancewouldbetrayhimandrun,that all who celebrated Him will now shout for his death He then knowingly took every sin, illness, disease, conflict, shame, and guiltuponHimselfasHeenduredbeating, ridicule,verbalbashing,anddeathonthe cross. Jesus then paid the price for our redemption defeating death and the grave; becoming forever the sacrifice for all generations to enter the presence of God. “I am the way and the truth and the life NoonecomethintotheFatherexcept throughme”John14:16.

As followers run scared, Jesus completed the task set before Him from the foundation of the earth (1 Peter 1:18-20 (the Cross and the grave; day 1). Hallelujah what happened after a day (day 2) of settling down of the town, disciples getting together and hiding, evenovercomewithdoubt!

A visit to the tomb (day 3) revealed an empty tomb; an unusual encounter and restored hope! That morning news was shared between believers of the miraculous appearance of “The Risen Savior.”

Hell was defeated, Jesus’s task was completed, our redemption was secure and salvation became available for all!

On the beautiful morning all was fulfilled according to the scriptures and Jesus now will give us life everlasting when we trust in His Name, accept His payment for our sin and believe God raised Him from death to live! “He who believes in Me, though he may die, he shall live” John 11:23-25.

So,thisresurrectiondaythatwecelebrate and call Easter, remember the cross and all that Jesus carried and redeemed us from,allthatHisresurrectionassuresusof and freely gives if we only believe for today is the day of salvation! After the crossisthegloriouspowerofGodtoraise Jesus for the dead that lives in us at salvation! When we believe in our heart God rose Jesus from the grave, confess withourmouthandtrustinJesus,Hegive useverlastinglife!Romans10:8-11.

RollingtheStoneAway

raised from the dead

MARK16:1-8Veryearlyonthefirstdayofthe week, when the sun had risen, they went to the tomb. They had been saying to one another, “Who will roll away the stone for us from the entrance to the tomb?” That first Easter morning, when the women made their way to the tomb, they had just one question on their minds: “Who will roll away the stone for us?” For it was a very large stone. It would have taken about twenty men to roll the stone away, given what we know about tombs at that time. So these three women knew they didn’t stand a chance.Theywantedtoanointtheirbeloved Savior’sdeadbody.Itwouldbetheirlastact of love toward the one who showed them suchlove.Buthow?

As they headed to the tomb that morning, that was foremost on their minds Apparently, they were not thinking about whether the guards would let them approach the tomb. They weren’t worried about being arrested, as followers of Jesus. They weren’t wondering why Peter and the others were not joining them. They weren’t concerned with how they would react to seeing Jesus’ dead body, their Savior, crucified and laying dead in a tomb No All they were really thinking about was, who would roll away the stone for them? For it wasaverylargestone.

Easter’sManyMeanings

Easter means many things to us as Christians.Itistoobigamiracletomean just one thing. Easter clearly means that Christ is risen. It means that Jesus has defeated death. Easter means that eternal life is real, that death does not end our life with God. That all who live and believe will never die. But that stone being rolled away from the tomb – a detail recorded in all four gospels – tells us something else about Easter that I think is quite significant. The stone being rolled away tells us that Easter is also about the ways in which God removes obstacles in our life, those obstacles that trytokeepusfromGod,andtrytostopus fromlivingthelifethatGodhascalledus tolive.Today,Iaskyoutothinkaboutthe large stones in your life. Those obstacles that are keeping you from living the full abundant life with Christ, here and now. Think about those challenges that are trying to keep you in your tombs, so to speak.Thosebattlesthatparalyzeuswith fear, that trap us, that try to stop us from living, really living, our new lives in Christ. And, then, think about what Easter teaches us about how God plans to removethosestones

Let’s start with Peter and the other men who were following Jesus, his first disciples. They are not going to the tomb to help the women remove the stone. No. They are all locked away in the upper room, afraid for their lives. No wonder the women were worried about whowouldrollawaythestoneforthem–they couldn’t get the men to go to the tomb with them! The men had created a tomb for themselves, and put a stone of their making over it. And they really didn’t want the stone rolledaway.Andthatevenincludestheleader of those disciples, Peter. Peter is the one who denied even knowing Jesus, after Jesus was arrested. And now, it seems that he is still denyingknowingJesus.Peter,bytheway,isa nickname given to him by Jesus, and it literally means rock or stone. Peter is supposed to be the stone, the rock on which Christwillbuildhischurch.

But that first Easter morning, the leader of the disciples is locked away with the other disciples, cowering in fear. You might say, in Peter’s case, that the stone Peter needs rolled away, is himself Sometimes that’s true for us, isn’t it? We get in our own way. We create our own tombs. And the stone covering the tomb is our very own self. Who will roll away that stone? Well, after Jesus was raised from the dead, he did as he promised. He showed himself to the disciples. Jesus entered the upper room, he rolled away their stone, he freed them of their fear, and he helped them to proclaim the good news to the world. That is part of the Easter miracle for us, too. Our risen Lord enters our lives, and even our tombs, and rolls away the stones that are keeping us from being all that God wants us to be. He frees us from fear, and helps us proclaimhismessagetotheworld.

TheySaidNothing(atFirst)

The women, of course, didn’t need Jesus to come to the upper room. They had the couragetogotothetombthemselves.Even thoughtheydidn’tknowwhattheywoulddo when they got there. And that, too, teaches ussomething,doesn’tit?Thatsometimeswe need to leave our tombs; we need to step out in faith; and we need to trust that God will be there for us, and help us in our need. The women knew they couldn’t roll that stone away, but it did not stop them from goingtothetomb.IfEastermeansanything, it certainly means that God will be with us, always,andespeciallywhenweneedGodto be.Butwecan’tletthewomenoffquitethat easytoday.Gobacktowhathappenedthat first Easter morning. When the women arrived at the tomb, the stone was already rolled away from the tomb. They had no need to have worried about that at all. But then they were told to go and tell Peter and theotherdisciplesthatJesusisgoingahead ofthemtoGalilee;theretheywouldseehim, justashepromised.So,whatdidthewomen do? They fled from the tomb, and said nothing to anyone, for they were afraid. And that is how Mark’s Easter story ends. Even after we step out in faith, we can still find ourselvesstumbling.Therearelotsofstones in our paths, it turns out, and it is easy to stumble.Thewomensaidnothingtoanyone, for they were afraid. So, what were the women afraid of? Perhaps of being laughed at. How could Jesus go to Galilee if he was dead? Perhaps of what they had just witnessed. A rolled-away stone, a missing Messiah, and a mysterious message from a young man dressed in a white robe. They would make anyone afraid, wouldn’t it? Or perhaps they were afraid of what the discipleswouldsay.

Would they think the women were crazy, or seeingthings?Wouldtheyevenbelievethem?

MaryMagdalenehaddemonsthatJesuscast out of her in the past, how would others take her telling what she witnessed? The women were afraid, and for good reason. And that fearbecameanotherstonethatneededtobe

rolled away. But here is another miracle of Easter: This stone was, indeed, rolled away. It must have been Because we know the story The women did tell the disciples. And Jesus did appear to those disciples, just as he promised. And he forgave Peter for denying him. And he promised to send the Holy Spirit to them. And he helped them understand what had just happened, and how it fulfilled the promise of Scripture. And he ascended into heaven. And the Holy Spirit came. And every last stone in the lives of those disciples was rolled away. Because there is no stone too large for God. No obstacle that God cannotremove.

ProofoftheResurrection

ThereisNoStoneJesusCannotRollAway

There is none that is more convincing to me than this: That Peter and the disciples, who were cowering in fear in their locked upper room, became the most fearless witnesses to the resurrection that you could ever imagine. Most of them dying, unafraid, and unwilling to deny what had become the cornerstone of their faith: that Christ died, roseagain,andpromisedonedaytoreturn. No one was more fearless than those first disciples. And no stone that this world rolled in front of them could stop them now. Not prison,orthreatofdeath,oranythingelsein this world. Now that is a miracle! So what changed?Howdidtheygofromcoweringin fear in a locked room, denying Jesus to boldly sharing the story of Jesus with all the world? Who rolled away the stone for them? What else could it be? It was Jesus himself, who was raised from the dead. And appeared to them. And rolled away all the stones that were stopping them from doing his work. And after he did, they fearlessly proclaimed the good news of the resurrection of our Lord. No stone could trap them anymore. That, too, is the miracle of Easter.Forthemandforus.

Easterisaboutanemptytomb,andsomuchmore.ItisaboutourrisenLord,withusalways, rollingawaythestonesandobstaclesinourlives.ItisaboutGodhelpingustoliveourlives without fear, following our risen Savior wherever he leads us, and helping to usher in God’s reign. Easter means that there is no tomb that God cannot free us from. There is no stone that God cannot roll away. Regardless of how we got there, God doesn’t want us to stay there GodwantstofreeusfromwhateveritisthatiskeepingusfromthenewlifeinChrist thatthemiracleofEasterofferstousall.So,donotbeafraid.TrustinGod.BelieveinGod’s Son. Rejoice in God’s love for you. And do not worry about who will roll away the stone for you,whateverthatstonemaybe.ForChristisrisen.Heisrisenindeed.

an Easter message

TrudyStinson

When I think of Easter, the first thing that comes to my mind is three wooden crosses. I guess most people think about new beginnings, or evenspringtime,prettyflowers,greengrass,and warmer weather. But all I see are those three wooden crosses on the hill of Golgotha, where GodgavehisoneandonlySon(John3:16)forus.

In a way, it is a sad time. A time to think about how Jesus died on that cross for us. The pain andsufferingHewentthroughissohardtothink about. It’s even harder to imagine Him on that cross after suffering through what they did to Him. He did it for all of us sinners. He wanted us to have the opportunity to be born again throughHim!Noothermancouldhaveendured such pain and suffering than God’s own son (Matthew27).

I then think of the one hanging beside him. He was a non-believer who got to witness what Jesus went through, and because of that he realized who the man on the cross beside him was- the Son of God! He got to heard Jesus ask Godtoforgivethem-thepeoplewhoputHimon that cross, for they know not what they do (Luke 23:24). This is something as a human I cannot being to wrap my mind around. Especially not while hanging on a cross with nails piercing my handsandfeet,acrownofthornsbeingstuckin my head, or after being pierced in the side so that I bleed out faster. No, I don’t even want to imagine that, much less forgive. How does one even begin to think that way? Why would you even want to forgive someone for killing an innocentman.

Because He was Jesus, that’s why. He was God’s son, that was sent to this Earthtosaveusfromallofoursins,and HediditbecauseHelovedus.

John 19:30 is where Jesus spoke His last words, “It is finished.” In that moment, it was,butasweallknow,thestorywasn’t over. Just as Jesus promised, He was comingback.EverytimeIhearthisstory, itgivesmechills Igetsoexcitedthinking about what was to come. Which is another reason Easter is one of my favorite times of year (along with Christmas, of course). It’s a time of new beginnings, new life, and new growth. JesustoldhisdisciplesinMatthew16:2128,thatonthethirddayofHisdeath,he wouldbemadenewandwholeagain.A newbeginning,andwewouldbeoffered the same opportunity when we believed inHim. Icanonlyimaginehowamazingitwould have been to witness the moment that heavy stone was rolled away see that thetombwasempty!NoJesus,nobody, just a white linen cloth folded where He had been laid. Just as Jesus had said throughout His walk in the days and monthsbeforeHisdeath(Matthew28:56,Like24:6-7,andMark16:6).

Though Jesus had told his mother Mary he would see her again, I’m sure when He took His last breath, a part of her broke.Aswouldanyparent.

When that angel appeared to her and Mary Magdline, I’m sure both were scared silly. But what did that angel say? He said, “Fear Not, for He is Risen!” As a mother, I can’t begin to imaginewhatJesus’motherfeltafterseeingher sonkilled,hungonacross,andthenburied.Then to know that her son- God’s son- was alive and well?AndtobetheonetogettotellHisdisciples thatHewasaliveandhadrisen?Howwonderful!

As a Christian, we celebrate Easter because of what Jesus did for us on the cross that day. Sadly,notallpeoplelookatEasterasaChristian celebration.Overtime,andmorethaneveninthe worldwelivein,ithasturnedintocelebratingthe easter bunny, getting to hunt eggs filled with candy or money, and buying new dresses or fancy outfits for the special Sunday service. And thesethingsaren’twrong.Myfamilyparticipates inthesesameactivitieseveryyear.Butasalittle girl, I was taught the real story of Easter, and what it was truly about- Jesus. My father made sureofthat.Weknewwhatsunriseserviceswere, we went to church to hear the story of what Jesus did for us on the cross, and this has been passedalongtomychildrenandtheirchildren. EventhoughIhavehearditallmylife,theEaster story still brings many emotions. It makes me sad, then happy, and then excited to know that MY Jesus will return one day on a white horse through the clouds to save all of us who believe in Him and know Him as our Lord and Savior JesusChrist

Whomhavingnot seen,yelove;in whom,thoughnow yeseehimnot,yet believing,yerejoice withjoyunspeakable andfullofglory: