EASTER IS ...

This Easter Devotion may be presented by 2 or 4 women reading the various sections, with another chosen to read the Bible passages. Or one person may present all of it, asking the women in the audience to read the Scripture portions. It will be more effective if the section headings are written on a blackboard or placed on a flannelgraph as follows:

EASTER IS
ROLLING AWAY THE STONE
BREAKING THE LOCKS
SHARING HIS PRESENCE
TELLING OUR JOY

If Christ be not raised, your faith is vain; ye are yet in your sins. But now is Christ risen from the dead and become the first fruits of them that slept. 1 Corinthians 15:17, 20 KJV

Almost 2000 years ago a man named Jesus was born into this world. After a short ministry of teaching and healing, He was tortured and executed, and within three days afterwards He rose from the dead.

That's history. Christ did live and die.

But he IS alive!

Easter is not just a memorial of an event in obscure history. EASTER IS today ­ in our lives ­ the same life-giving force of that first resurrection morning.

Each new day brings us countless Easter reminders: the sun appearing above the horizon after the blackness of night every blade of grass or green sprig that sprouts from a dead-like branch our own awakening from the unconsciousness of sleep to live a new day the beginning of life with each human birth the awakening of health and strength after the weakness of illness the joyous passing of a fellow Christian to life in heaven.

These are daily resurrections ­ small foretastes of the life everlasting.

EASTER IS ­ the power of a God who brings life from death!

EASTER IS ­ ROLLING AWAY THE STONE

When the Sabbath was over, Mary of Magdala, Mary the mother of James, and Salome brought aromatic oils intending to go and anoint Him; and very early on the Sunday morning, just after sunrise, they came to the tomb. They were wondering among themselves who would roll away the stone for them from the entrance to the tomb, when they looked up and saw that the stone, huge as it was, had been rolled back already.  Mark 16:1-4 TEV

What is your stone? What comes between you and Christ?

Are you so busy that you have no time for the resurrection? Do the daily frustrations of existence crowd Him out? Or do you feel more comfortable if you can roll a stone across that part of your mind that says you need more than material things? Do you put stones between you and Easter?

Or ­ how many times have you faced what seem to be an insurmountable problem, a stone you thought could not be rolled away, only to find ­ after fruitless fretting and concern ­ that it really wasn't that big at all ­ or that it just wasn't there?

EASTER IS! YOUR STONE IS ROLLED AWAY!

EASTER IS ­ BREAKING THE LOCKS

Late that Sunday evening, when the disciples were together behind locked doors, for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood among them. "Peace be with you!" He said, and then showed them His hands and His side. So when the disciples saw the Lord, they were filled with joy. A week later his disciples were again in the room, and Thomas was with them. Although the doors were locked, Jesus came and stood among them.  John 20:19-20, 26 TEV

The disciples were behind locked doors ­ and Jesus stood among them. The locks were broken, because fear was the real lock. And the resurrection took away their fear.

Fear locks the door of our hearts, making us suspicious, afraid, and hesitant to be part of our world, to live and relate to fellow human beings. But Christ has broken the locks!

His resurrection makes me as redeemed as everyone else; it makes everyone else as redeemed as me.

His love flowing down into our hearts breaks those barriers of reserve, of pride, of fear, and lets our love flow ­ back to Him ­ and spilling out in all directions: to our family our neighbors our friends those less fortunate, whom we secretly despise those more blessed whom we resent and envy.

EASTER IS! HIS LOVE CASTS OUT OUR FEAR!

EASTER IS ­ SHARING HIS PRESENCE

By this time they had reached the village to which they were going, and He made as if to continue His journey, but they pressed Him: "Stay with us, for evening draws on, and the day is almost over." So He went in to stay with them. And when He had sat down with them at table, He took bread and said the blessing; He broke the bread, and offered it to them. Then their eyes were opened, and they recognized Him; and He vanished from their sight. They said to one another, "Did we not feel our hearts on fire as He talked with us on the road and explained the Scriptures to us?" Luke 24:28-32 TEV

Even when the disciples did not recognize Him, Christ was there!

Are we always aware of His presence?

Remember, it's not the suffering man Jesus whose presence fills our lives, but the resurrected, glorified Lord of heaven and earth Who shines in us ­ to lift us from boredom and humdrum ­ to help us over the rough spots ­ to conquer pain and suffering and doubt and despair. We are not alone!

EASTER IS ­ THE EVERLASTING PRESENCE OF OUR LORD!

EASTER IS ­ TELLING OUR JOY

The angel then addressed the women: go quickly and tell His disciples: "He has been raised from the dead and is going on before you into Galilee; there you will see Him. That is what I have to tell you." They hurried away from the tomb in great joy, and ran to tell the disciples. Matthew 28:7-8 TEV

As resurrected Christians we bubble, we exude, we live in joy! Our whole lives are a telling of the resurrection story. We cannot but speak of what we have seen and heard. We cannot but live in the joy of the resurrection! It radiates from us ­ to everyone around us ­ to the whole world!

Sing a new song to the Lord!
He has done wonderful things!
By His own power and holy strength
He has won the victory;
Sing to the Lord, and praise Him!
Every day tell the good news that He has saved us!
Proclaim His glory to the nations,
His mighty acts to all peoples! Psalm 98:1-2; Psalm 96:2-3 TEV

The early Christians greeted one another with the words, "He IS risen," to which the reply was "He IS risen indeed!" We close our meditation with this greeting ­ a reaffirmation of EASTER in our hearts and lives today.

I say, "He is risen." You reply:

HE IS RISEN INDEED!

Hallelujah! Let us joyfully sing:

Entire group sings:

Jesus Christ is ris'n today. Alleluia!
Our triumphant holy day. Alleluia!
Praise Him, all ye heavenly host. Alleluia!
Father, Son and Holy Ghost. Alleluia!

(TLH #199, verses 1-4 combined or sing both verses)