Easter Morning meditation

I was asked to do the Easter sunrise service meditation. Here it is, complete with scripture. We had a powerpoint slide show with this on a big screen (done by Deanna Etienne). Try to picture appropriate scenes where they come to mind. I read this very slowly - took 6 - 7 minutes so it was SLOW and reflective!

John 3:16 “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.

1 John 4 9-10, 19: This is how God showed his love among us: He sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through him. ¹⁰ This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins.¹⁹ We love because he first loved us.

Wonderful God, we praise you and ask that you guide our thoughts. May the words of my mouth and the meditation of our hearts be pleasing in your sight, O LORD. Amen.

Please join me by reflecting on the significance and events of holy week.

In the beginning

In the beginning - was the Word, ---- and the Word - was with God, - and the Word ---- was God. (John 1:1)

In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth and all that is in it.

And it was good. It was very good.

Until….

Until, evil, in the form of disobedience and pride, crept in.

But God created again – rather He re-created.

This time He created a plan of reconciliation,

a plan of redemption,

a plan of forgiveness.

The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. (John 1:14)

Jesus is the Word, God made flesh.

Emmanuel. God with us.

He walked,.. He healed…. He taught…… He suffered, ……….. and He died.

He demonstrated a lesson on forgiveness

as he hung on the cross saying,

”Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.” (Luke 23:34)

He brought hope right up until the end

saying to the criminal next to him

“I tell you the truth, today you will be with me in paradise”. (Luke 23:43)

He displayed total surrender

and complete obedience to God

as he breathed his last,

saying, “Father, into your hands I commit my spirit”. (Luke 23:46)

And He died ……

He died

in the darkness

that engulfed the whole land ……alone.

Saying, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” (Matthew 27:46)

(slide black screen) (Silence – count to 5)

As day was dawning on the third day, at sunrise,

This sunrise,

There is great news!

Jesus has risen!!!

He is risen!

He is risen Indeed!

How can this be?

What does it mean?

The women went to the tomb with spices for preparing the body,

Jesus’ body,

for burial.

When they arrived, the unthinkable had happened.

The stone in front of the tomb was rolled back!

Jesus’ body was gone!

According to scripture, the guards at the tomb were “like dead men” – speechless.

The women ran to tell the others.

Peter and John ran to see for themselves if the nonsense the women were saying could be true.

They --- also --- found the tomb empty.

They entered the tomb --to find the linens used to wrap Jesus’ dead body - just days before - hours really – The linens were empty.

The burial cloth --- used around Jesus’ head --- was folded --- neatly

and laying separate from the linen.

Where could Jesus’ body be?
Could it be -- that he really meant -- that He would be -- raised?

Physically raised, ------ Returned to life?

As proof that it was true,

Jesus, ---- once dead --- but now alive,

Appeared to Mary, ---

and to the other women ---

And to two men who were leaving Jerusalem on their way to Emmaus, ---

And to the 11 remaining disciples and ---

later to many other followers. ----

He talked with them --- and ---he ate with them.

He taught them even more and ---- he promised the Holy Spirit.

He reminded them of his teachings --- and of the prophesy --- that they hadn’t understood. ---- That he would have to die, --- be buried and ----rise again.

Jesus had tried to prepare the disciples;

then he did -- just as he said he would. ---- He arose.

He has overcome the wages of sin which is death.

He overcame death for us…..

Each -- one -- of us.

He arose, this very morning.

He has broken the chains of death and --- the bondage of sin.

The Good News we call it. ------ The Mystery of the Faith.

Jesus came. ---- Jesus died. ---- Jesus rose again.

Jesus was the atonement for our sins.

He redeemed us. ---- He forgave us.

Jesus made the way clear ---- for us to be reunited ---- with our Creator.

Jesus sent the Holy Spirit so we would know peace in this life.

Scripture calls it “the peace of God, which transcends all understanding” -

the peace which “will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” (Phil 4:7)

God, ---- through Jesus Christ, ---- gave us these gifts

The gifts of forgiveness --- salvation ---- eternal life ----- peace.

Free and clear. ---- We only need accept them, no strings attached.

It’s all or nothing.

You can’t have peace --- true and complete peace --- without accepting God’s gifts of forgiveness and salvation.

Do you accept the free gifts of God’s grace- Forgiveness? Salvation? Eternal Life? Peace?

This morning, --- This Easter morning, ---- I invite you to accept God’s gift of reconciliation,

Reconciling us the created

with God the Creator

through the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ, The Word made flesh.

For God so loved the world

that he gave his one and only Son,

that whoever believes in him

shall not perish

but have eternal life.

Amen

Comments

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