It’s Easter weekend, the best holiday of the year.
Forget the peeps, the bunnies, and the Cadbury eggs. Easter honors the greatest event in human history: the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ.
I love Easter. I love to dye Easter eggs with kids. Now that my girls are grown and gone and all the kids I know are on the busy side, I dyed eggs by myself this year. Like my Grandma Sharp who stood over Grandpa and all the grandkids as we dyed the eggs, I’ve always stood in the background making it happen for everyone else. This year, I mixed and blended and added more color to create more intense colors and wondered why my eggs were turning out splotched and laughed at the green speckles on my white eggs because my green dye splattered when I poured in the hot water and . . . sigh. It was so much fun.
All the while, whether I have twenty-five kids lining a banquet table in my backyard or it’s just little ole’ me at my newspaper lined dining table, I remember the reason why I’m doing this. It’s not because I hate Easter egg hunts and would rather make ‘em than find ‘em. It’s not because Jesus’ resurrection is any where near the celebration of new birth that happens to a chicken. Because it’s not. It’s so much more. I’m celebrating my Lord’s return to life so that I and the whole world would not have to fear death ever again. Because of Him, I can experience release from guilt and liberty from the clutches of sin and self bondage.
It’s a week to rejoice, sing, share Communion, and listen to the wonderful message of the Cross over and over again—whether it’s a Seder meal, Good Friday service, working with church ladies to make Sunday breakfast for 75 people, Sunrise service, or gathering with my wonderful church family as we are all together Easter morning for the main worship service and we shout together to whoever wants to listen, “He is Risen!”
As wonderful as Easter is, it leaves our ministry family a tad exhausted so my husband and I disappear for a few days afterwards. This year, we’re loading up our Escape and taking the rest of our daughter’s possessions to her new Army post where she starts Monday as a military optometrist. I’ve even cancelled the next week of our Bible Study, “Really Bad Girls of the Bible.” Starting the week of April 13th, we’ll study the woman caught in adultery as described in John 8. I’ve always wondered why the Pharisees didn’t haul her lover in front of Jesus as well. No matter. She’s a great character to discuss the week after Easter because the One who had every right to condemn her for her immoral choices chose instead to forgive her.
As I wish you a special weekend of celebration, let me share the words of one of my favorite Christian songs by Petra that says it all. Whisper the words to yourself and don’t forget the motions. Let your mouth and your hands express your deepest worship to a God who cared enough to send His very best.
Lord, I lift Your name on high
Lord, I love to sing Your praises
I’m so glad You’re in my life
I’m so glad You came to save us.You came from heaven to earth
To show the way
From the earth to the cross
My debt to pay
From the cross to the grave
From the grave to the sky
Lord, I lift Your name on high
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