Hallelujah! The tomb is empty! Jesus. Is. Alive! Just as HE promised, Jesus lives today.
Again the different gospels tell different details of the resurrection, but in them all, Mary goes early to the tomb to find the stone rolled away and Jesus gone. The gospel of John speaks of how she goes to find Peter and John to tell them, they come and go, and as she is looking into the tomb to see the grave clothes laid and the face cloth folded in a different place. She sees two angels, one at the head and one at the foot. The angels asked her why she was crying. She responded that if they had taken him to please tell her so she could get the body and take care of it.
At that point she turned around and saw Jesus who asked why she was weeping. She told him the same. Then Jesus called her by name and she knew it was he! I can imagine clearly the joy in Mary's heart when she realized it was Jesus. I'm so glad that Jesus knows ME by name and I know HIM!
Thank God that Jesus lives today!
On a personal note, every Easter of my life was spent in a church service. Every single one. There was one when I was about fourteen that my daddy was really sick and in the hospital and my sister and I attended with our aunt and uncle. Then when I married The Husband, our church did Sunrise Service then an indoor service at regular time. For 41 years, The Husband and I have gone to both of these services.
As all of you know, today is different because of our country's fight with this virus. No organized church services are planned, just online. And I'm grateful for online. We have worshipped that way for the past weeks. This morning, though, is different.
This morning, The Husband and I went outside at sunrise and worshipped and praised together. He read the resurrection account from the gospel of John as we both stood there dripping happy tears for what Jesus did for us and what it means for us. We gave thanks for the love of Jesus, what he has done and continues to do for us, and all the other good that HE is! No, it was not like our Easter normal but the feeling where it counts is the same. Grateful hearts praising Jesus that HE lived, died, rose again and now is with us always!
The song that I have on my heart today is one that our choir was practicing and would have sang in today's "organized" Easter service and goes beautifully with The Husband's scripture reading in OUR sunrise service today. It goes like this:
"Very early in the morning went Mary to the tomb.
Where she found the stone already rolled away.
Two in white said unto Mary, "Go and spread the glad refrain,
He still reigns, He still reigns!
He sits high upon a mountain, king of kings and Lord of Lords,
And all power is his forever, HE still reigns.
An empty tomb is there to prove death could never hold our King,
He still reigns, He still reigns!
This old world's in such confusion
Hearts are failing every where.
And sometimes it seems that God just doesn't care.
But don't you fear for He holds our future,
Let all heaven and earth proclaim,
He still reigns! He still reigns!
An empty tomb is there to prove, death could never hold our king!
He still reigns! He still reigns! He still reigns! He still reigns!"
Oh, and anytime one sees a napkin folded, it means that person is coming back. Pay attention that Jesus' napkin in the tomb was folded. He's coming back!
Consider.....
I'm thinking, too, I might keep this thread of posts going a bit longer so check back with me tomorrow and maybe the next tomorrow after that....who knows? I might be on a writer's streak!
Blessed Easter Celebration to you!
Again the different gospels tell different details of the resurrection, but in them all, Mary goes early to the tomb to find the stone rolled away and Jesus gone. The gospel of John speaks of how she goes to find Peter and John to tell them, they come and go, and as she is looking into the tomb to see the grave clothes laid and the face cloth folded in a different place. She sees two angels, one at the head and one at the foot. The angels asked her why she was crying. She responded that if they had taken him to please tell her so she could get the body and take care of it.
At that point she turned around and saw Jesus who asked why she was weeping. She told him the same. Then Jesus called her by name and she knew it was he! I can imagine clearly the joy in Mary's heart when she realized it was Jesus. I'm so glad that Jesus knows ME by name and I know HIM!
Thank God that Jesus lives today!
On a personal note, every Easter of my life was spent in a church service. Every single one. There was one when I was about fourteen that my daddy was really sick and in the hospital and my sister and I attended with our aunt and uncle. Then when I married The Husband, our church did Sunrise Service then an indoor service at regular time. For 41 years, The Husband and I have gone to both of these services.
As all of you know, today is different because of our country's fight with this virus. No organized church services are planned, just online. And I'm grateful for online. We have worshipped that way for the past weeks. This morning, though, is different.
This morning, The Husband and I went outside at sunrise and worshipped and praised together. He read the resurrection account from the gospel of John as we both stood there dripping happy tears for what Jesus did for us and what it means for us. We gave thanks for the love of Jesus, what he has done and continues to do for us, and all the other good that HE is! No, it was not like our Easter normal but the feeling where it counts is the same. Grateful hearts praising Jesus that HE lived, died, rose again and now is with us always!
The song that I have on my heart today is one that our choir was practicing and would have sang in today's "organized" Easter service and goes beautifully with The Husband's scripture reading in OUR sunrise service today. It goes like this:
"Very early in the morning went Mary to the tomb.
Where she found the stone already rolled away.
Two in white said unto Mary, "Go and spread the glad refrain,
He still reigns, He still reigns!
He sits high upon a mountain, king of kings and Lord of Lords,
And all power is his forever, HE still reigns.
An empty tomb is there to prove death could never hold our King,
He still reigns, He still reigns!
This old world's in such confusion
Hearts are failing every where.
And sometimes it seems that God just doesn't care.
But don't you fear for He holds our future,
Let all heaven and earth proclaim,
He still reigns! He still reigns!
An empty tomb is there to prove, death could never hold our king!
He still reigns! He still reigns! He still reigns! He still reigns!"
Oh, and anytime one sees a napkin folded, it means that person is coming back. Pay attention that Jesus' napkin in the tomb was folded. He's coming back!
Consider.....
I'm thinking, too, I might keep this thread of posts going a bit longer so check back with me tomorrow and maybe the next tomorrow after that....who knows? I might be on a writer's streak!
Blessed Easter Celebration to you!
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