3-28-2016

Good Morning All!!

           Matthew 28:1; “Now after the Sabbath, toward the dawn of the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to see the tomb.”

    Easter Sunday was very early this year just about as early as it can be.  So with an early service, it was downright cold at the start of service.  Many of the ladies, young and old alike wore some very pretty Easter outfits but they wore winter coats to get into church.  Easter started a little chilly this year.

    You kind of wonder about the women who went to the tomb early that morning.  I don’t know if it was actually cold but it felt cold.  It had been three days and they were still drained emotionally from the events of Friday.  They had such high hopes.  They had seen and experienced acts of incredible compassion.  People who had been sick for years were healed.  People who had been rejected and tossed away by the religious leaders and by society in general were hearing a voice of hope.  They probably thought that if only the leaders would just actually listen to Jesus everyone would understand.  Yet, all this hope they had fell short and now, early in the morning, they just felt cold.  They felt numb.  Their motions were almost mechanical.  They were going to attend to something that needed to be done.  It was going to be done in the respectful manner.  They needed to properly prepare the body.  They would do as expected, they would tend to the one they loved but it would be difficult.  Their sorrow flowed through them like ice water and left them cold, sad, and lost.

    So when they saw the tomb open and then empty and then they were told that Jesus wasn’t here but he was alive; they were shocked and ran and told the disciples.  As the truth settled in and Jesus appeared to them, they once again were warmed by his presence.  Suddenly, it warmed as their hearts were filled with a new joy and a new hope that went beyond anything they had experienced.  They knew true love, true peace and true hope.  They were no longer cold and dead spiritually but now warm and alive.

    It seemed fitting that by mid-afternoon our temperature was very mild and enjoyable.  The warmth of Easter is felt by all who believe.  We cling to the promise made to us by the risen Savior.  He has promised to give to us life and to give it abundantly.  We have that eternal hope.  We have that warmth, no matter how cold the devil wants us to feel; we have the warmth of God’s love for us.  We have all that we need.  God has remembered us and sent his Son to die and rise again in order to free us from sin and to reclaim us as his eternal family.  He bought us back so we can be brought back into the warm sunlight of his mercy.  The resurrection of Jesus ended the cold reign of death and replaced it with the warmth of his eternal life.

Loving Lord, in your resurrection you have warmed us with your love and mercy.  In you all our hope rests.  Keep us secure in our faith towards you and move us by your Spirit to love one another as you love us.  Give us the voice to proclaim your truth.  This we ask in your loving and precious name, amen,

God’s Peace,

Pastor Bret