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 that lifted Jesus out of the grave abides in us. In the book of Revelation, we see John 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 spirit of prophecy.”

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 angel who rolled the stone away. Then what did that angel do? Matthew 28:2 tells us, “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 wait for the redemption of the body of Christ. Put your hope in Jesus- He has already overcome the world.

In everything, always, more Jesus,

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

Ashley Ennis

But now being made free from sin, and become servants to God, ye have your fruit unto holiness, and the end everlasting life.

ROMANS 6:22

an act of love

Lori Stevens

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 was struggling to comprehend this message.

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, but have everlasting life. We need this message. This is the good news.

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

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 chapter 19. Jesus had been crucified and had died. Joseph of Arimathaea asked for his body and in verse 19 "And there came also Nicodemus, which at the first came to Jesus by night, and brought a mixture of myrrh and aloes, about an hundred pound weight."

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 not need to be afraid to share the gospel of Jesus.The good news that He came to save 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 lives today to save us!

I think about the fear and worry of Nicodemus and how often I have been fearful of sharing the gospel with someone.

We allow fear to prevent our testimony. 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.

His righteousness Linda Duvall

Romans 14:17 “For the kingdom of God is not meat and drink; but righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Ghost.”

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, only God can change me!

Oh, I could try not to cuss, I tried to be good, I tried to forgive; all of these things I “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 want a real relationship with God, but they just don’t feel “right” enough to come to the Father. If that is you today, let me help you with the truth of it!

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 loves you just as you are right now!

You can have a real relationship with God because He wants you to have a relationship with Him, and He made the way for you do that through His Son, Jesus Christ!

Jesus came from the Father, was born of a woman, grew up in this world, in just 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 each person to come into a relationship 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 you eternal life and HIS RIGHTEOUNESS is then given to you, placed in your heart by faith, and His righteousness then begins the work in you, giving you new desires and changing your nature into a brand new you!

Please don’t confuse righteousness with holiness - they are two separate things.

Righteousness is what you are Holiness 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 the other hand, IS progressive.

To the extent that you are obedient to God through applying His Word in your life, then you are being transformed into the image of His Son - Jesus - in your actions (what you do). Holiness has nothing to do with your right standing before God. If you will become established in righteousness, then righteousness will pick you up when you fall, and keep the devil from beating you up with condemnation.

God is still on the throne. Grace is not erased just because you mess up. God still declares 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, and allow God to help you in forgiveness. He declares you righteous as the blood covers you by grace through faith, and is sufficient to meet every evil tendency and sin you have committed or will commit through ignorance, not willfulness.

Realize now, I am not preaching, “you can do anything you want to and God will look over it”, absolutely NOT! I am just telling you to stop “trying” to make yourself right, and change yourself, because you are MADE new, the old things have passed away and ALL things are 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, and God has a part. His part is FINISHED in Jesus Christ, your part is to believe it!

Enjoy your salvation in Jesus and enjoy the freedom from guilt since He has washed your sins away and reconciled you to the Father. You are restored, reformed and revived in Jesus!

5

joy unspeakable Janis Duvall “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 now ye see him not, yet believing, ye rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory: Receiving the end of your faith, even the salvation of your souls.” 1 Peter 1: 3-5 8-9 Everything about Easter speaks of newness.

Newness of life.

Newness of purpose.

Newness of spirit.

The very essence of the gospel in a nutshell. We have been given a new life.

We have been given a new purpose and best of all we have been given a new spirit.

The Bible tells us in Romans 6:4 that we are buried with him by baptism unto death: that like as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in “newness” of life. And in 2

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 principalities and powers. He made a shew of them openly, triumphing over them in it.

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 have the keys of hell and of death.

Death is dead!! What a thought! No longer do we have to fear death because of the sacrifice that Jesus gave. Death is swallowed up in victory! O, death where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory? The sting of death is sin; and the strength of sin is the law but thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.

“Because He lives, I can face tomorrow!

Because He lives all fear is gone Because I know who holds my future, And life is worth the living because He lives”(excerpt from Because He Lives)

The prophet Isiah said it like this in Chapter 25:8: He will swallow up death in victory; and the Lord GOD will wipe away tears from off all faces; and the rebuke of his people shall he take away from off all the earth: for the LORD hath spoken it. And it shall be said in that day, Lo, this is our God; we have waited for him, and he will save us: this is the LORD; we have waited for him, we will be glad and rejoice in his salvation.

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, and by whom also we have access by faith into this 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 eternal life through his resurrection.

What a thought! That we who were dead in our sins are now able to be called the Sons of God. Oh, the joy of sins forgiv’n, Oh, the bliss the blood-washed know, Oh, the peace akin to Heav’n, Where the healing waters flow.

Because of the cross we are forgiven, because of the grave we are set free Because of the resurrection we now live forever.

Beloved, keep yourselves in the love of God, 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 presence of his glory with exceeding joy, To the only wise God our Saviour, be glory and majesty, dominion and power, both now and forever. 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

Cindy Fields

When Jesus died on the cross, a number of things 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 God was literally left hanging open. No longer was only the high priest allowed to enter into God’s presence. Anyone willing to obey could now go into that holiest of places.

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 turned away to mourn the death of His child.

Jesus didn’t want to die. The night before His crucifixion, He prayed fervently in Gethsemane to find another way – any other way – to accomplish His goal. “And He went a little beyond them [the apostles], and fell on His face and prayed, saying, “My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from Me; yet not as I will, but as You will” (Matthew 26:39).

He was in such distress, in fact, that the Bible says, “And being in agony He was praying very fervently; and His sweat became like drops of blood, falling down upon the ground” (Luke 22:44).

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

that the capillaries around the sweat glands burst, causing a person to literally sweat blood. Whether the reference in Luke is figurative or literal, Jesus was suffering deeply. He genuinely did not want to go through the ordeal that was awaiting Him. And God, I’m sure, did not want to kill His child, His only child. So why did God allow Jesus to suffer so?

Because there was no other way for us to be free.

Throughout the Bible, sacrifices were made – lambs, bulls, doves took the punishment that mankind accrued.

But that wasn’t enough. “For it is impossible for the blood of bulls and goats to take away sins” (Hebrews 10:4). Only a perfect sacrifice would suffice – the pure, unstained blood of God Himself made flesh.

In the beginning, God created man and a paradise for him to live in. He gave him freewill to let him choose his own path, and man fell; paradise was lost, and a life of pain and toil became our inheritance. And only God and His perfect sacrifice could give paradise back to us.

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 we ever thank Him for the agony He suffered on our behalf?

All we can do is obey – do what He tells us to do: “Repent, and each of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins; and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit” (Acts 2:38).

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, which means “immersion” or “overwhelmed with 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 – resurrected as Jesus was to a new life. With this obedience, we’re baptized into His death and our sins are covered by His blood. And as long as we remain faithful to Him, His blood will continue to cleanse us – to wipe away the sins that would otherwise separate us from God.

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 Ethiopian eunuch said to Philip after he “preached to him Jesus”: “Look! Water!

What prevents me from being baptized?” (Acts 8:38).

Come to Him. He saved us, but to have 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 chance to do the same.

And forever, we will be with Him.

Repent, and each of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins; and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.

Acts 2:38

the returning

Marylou Forrest There's a moving in my spirit Deep down in my soul I hear the voice of Jesus Like the prophets told of old He is coming back soon To take his church on high No wings will be needed For that trip beyond the sky Will the church be ready?

Or will it be like Noah's time?

Will he find the church in order?

Or Asleep again he'll find?

Come together weary Christians Stop sleeping in the pews The Lord has made heaven ready To welcome me and you

Step out in the streets and invite them in He will fill them with his spirit And free them of their sin

answer Him today

Heidi McCullers

As we journey through the Easter season, reflecting on the profound sacrifice of our Savior, Jesus Christ, I am compelled to share a glimpse of my own story. They say that sharing our testimony is one of the most powerful ways to witness to others, and during this sacred time of year, I am reminded of the significance of doing just that.

My journey with Christ began in the loving embrace of parents who were ministers, deeply rooted in their faith. Raised in the church, I was blessed with a strong foundation of God's love and presence.

Though I may not have always lived up to the ideals set before me, I never doubted the reality of God's existence or His unfailing love. It was ingrained in every fiber of my being.

As I matured, my relationship with Christ evolved from one modeled after my parents' faith to a deeply personal connection. I vividly recall a pivotal moment at a revival in the First Church of the Nazarene in Hutchinson, Kansas. With my children by my side, I found myself once again at the altar, rededicating my life to Christ. Though I had been saved, I realized I was still clinging to my own ways, hesitant to fully surrender to His will.

As the minister spoke, it was as if the words were meant solely for me. "It is time," he said, "to put your faith and your life entirely in the hands of Jesus." And in that moment, everything changed. Thirty years later, I still look back on that day as a turning point—a moment when Jesus became not just the Savior of my parents' faith, but my personal Savior, my Redeemer, and my Yahweh.

During this Easter season, I extend an invitation to each of you to draw closer to Jesus—to quiet the noise of the world and focus intently on Him. For without Him, life is devoid of meaning; but with Him, life is instilled with purpose and hope. Don't delay— answer Him today.

Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.

Philippians 4:8

“And Boaz said unto the elders, and unto all the people, Ye are witnesses this day, that I have bought all that was Elimelech's, and all that was Chilion's and Mahlon's, of the hand of

Naomi.

Moreover

Ruth

the

Moabitess, the wife of Mahlon, have I purchased to be my wife, to raise up the name of the dead upon his inheritance, that the name of the dead be not cut off from among his brethren, and from the gate of his 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

joy comes in the morning

Allene Duvall

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 – Luke 23- John 19- and Matthew 27). 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 allegiance would betray him and run, that all who celebrated Him will now shout for his death. He then knowingly took every sin, illness, disease, conflict, shame, and guilt upon Himself as He endured beating, ridicule, verbal bashing, and death on the 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. No one cometh into the Father except through me” John 14:16.

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, even overcome with doubt!

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, this resurrection day that we celebrate and call Easter, remember the cross and all that Jesus carried and redeemed us from, all that His resurrection assures us of and freely gives if we only believe for today is the day of salvation! After the cross is the glorious power of God to raise Jesus for the dead that lives in us at salvation! When we believe in our heart God rose Jesus from the grave, confess with our mouth and trust in Jesus, He give us everlasting life! Romans 10: 8-11.

raised from the dead Mindy Alvarez

Rolling the Stone Away

Easter’s Many Meanings

MARK 16:1-8 Very early on the first day of the 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. They wanted to anoint their beloved Savior’s dead body. It would be their last act of love toward the one who showed them such love. But how?

Easter means many things to us as Christians. It is too big a miracle to mean 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 try to keep us from God, and try to stop us from living the life that God has called us to live. Today, I ask you to think about the 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. Those battles that paralyze us with 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 remove those stones.

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 was a very large stone.

Back at the Upper Room 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 who would roll away the stone for them – 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 rolled away. And that even includes the leader 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 denying knowing Jesus. Peter, by the way, is a nickname given to him by Jesus, and it literally means rock or stone. Peter is supposed to be the stone, the rock on which Christ will build his church.

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 proclaim his message to the world.

They Said Nothing (at First) The women, of course, didn’t need Jesus to come to the upper room. They had the courage to go to the tomb themselves. Even though they didn’t know what they would do when they got there. And that, too, teaches us something, doesn’t it? That sometimes we 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 going to the tomb. If Easter means anything, it certainly means that God will be with us, always, and especially when we need God to be. But we can’t let the women off quite that easy today. Go back to what happened that 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 the other disciples that Jesus is going ahead of them to Galilee; there they would see him, just as he promised. So, what did the women 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 ourselves stumbling. There are lots of stones in our paths, it turns out, and it is easy to stumble. The women said nothing to anyone, 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 disciples would say.

Would they think the women were crazy, or seeing things? Would they even believe them?

Mary Magdalene had demons that Jesus cast 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 fear became another stone that needed to be 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 cannot remove.

Proof of the Resurrection 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, rose again, and promised one day to return.

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, or threat of death, or anything else in this world. Now that is a miracle! So what changed? How did they go from cowering in 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. For them and for us.

There is No Stone Jesus Cannot Roll Away Easter is about an empty tomb, and so much more. It is about our risen Lord, with us always, rolling away the stones and obstacles in our lives. It is about God helping us to live our lives 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. God wants to free us from whatever it is that is keeping us from the new life in Christ that the miracle of Easter offers to us all. So, do not be afraid. Trust in God. Believe in God’s Son. Rejoice in God’s love for you. And do not worry about who will roll away the stone for you, whatever that stone may be. For Christ is risen. He is risen indeed.

an Easter message

Trudy Stinson

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 even springtime, pretty flowers, green grass, and warmer weather. But all I see are those three wooden crosses on the hill of Golgotha, where God gave his one and only Son (John 3:16) for us.

In a way, it is a sad time. A time to think about how Jesus died on that cross for us. The pain and suffering He went through is so hard to think 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 through Him! No other man could have endured such pain and suffering than God’s own son (Matthew 27).

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 God to forgive them- the people who put Him on 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 hands and feet, a crown of thorns being stuck in 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 innocent man.

Because He was Jesus, that’s why. He was God’s son, that was sent to this Earth to save us from all of our sins, and He did it because He loved us.

John 19:30 is where Jesus spoke His last words, “It is finished.” In that moment, it was, but as we all know, the story wasn’t over. Just as Jesus promised, He was coming back. Every time I hear this story, it gives me chills. I get so excited thinking 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.

Jesus told his disciples in Matthew 16: 2128, that on the third day of His death, he would be made new and whole again. A new beginning, and we would be offered the same opportunity when we believed in Him. I can only imagine how amazing it would have been to witness the moment that heavy stone was rolled away see that the tomb was empty! No Jesus, no body, just a white linen cloth folded where He had been laid. Just as Jesus had said throughout His walk in the days and months before His death (Matthew 28:56, Like 24:6-7, and Mark 16:6).

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. As would any parent.

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 imagine what Jesus’ mother felt after seeing her son killed, hung on a cross, and then buried. Then to know that her son- God’s son- was alive and well? And to be the one to get to tell His disciples that He was alive and had risen? How wonderful!

As a Christian, we celebrate Easter because of what Jesus did for us on the cross that day.

Sadly, not all people look at Easter as a Christian celebration. Overtime, and more than even in the world we live in, it has turned into celebrating the easter bunny, getting to hunt eggs filled with candy or money, and buying new dresses or fancy outfits for the special Sunday service. And these things aren’t wrong. My family participates in these same activities every year. But as a little girl, I was taught the real story of Easter, and what it was truly about- Jesus. My father made sure of that. We knew what sunrise services were, we went to church to hear the story of what Jesus did for us on the cross, and this has been passed along to my children and their children.

Even though I have heard it all my life, the Easter 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 Jesus Christ.

Whom having not seen, ye love; in whom, though now ye see him not, yet believing, ye rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory: 1 PETER 1:8