Easter — Best. Story. EVER — 40 More Days to Go!!
Maybe you are thinking “Donna sure loves Easter because she keeps talking about it”. Well, I do! Here’s why: Easter Sunday is just the beginning of Easter. The Easter season (the resurrection of our Lord and His time on earth before ascending to heaven) is still underway. That was 40 days He was “in and out” of places and people’s lives during that time. He was showing up when they least expected Him. Can you imagine being one of those who witnessed Him being alive AGAIN? According to scripture, He stepped alongside two of His disciples on their way to Emmaus, He appeared to Mary and other women. While the disciples met behind closed doors, He walked THROUGH the walls, literally, appeared to them, and “doubting” Thomas touched the nail prints in His hands and the piercing in His side.
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For 40 days, Jesus proved to His followers that He really had been raised from the dead. In 1 Corinthians 15:6, Paul records that Jesus “appeared to more than 500 brothers at one time”. Jesus taught His disciples the kind of King He really was. What a sight for sore eyes it must have been to Peter who had denied Him and all the others who hid during His crucifixion. The crux of our faith is based on eye witnesses to our risen Lord. It was one thing to walk and talk with Him before His death, but how AWESOME to have witnessed Him ALIVE again.
What a seminar on biblical teaching and resurrection life that must have been! Imagine being taught about new life, resurrection life, and never-ending life by the One Who had said, “I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live. Whoever, and everyone who lives and believes in Me shall never die.” John 11:25. Now that’s a reason to shout “Hallelujah!” Death on this side of heaven is just our “Forever” life with Him — just like He said. We’ll be like Jesus — death on this side of heaven is just walking through the walls of heaven to live FOREVER with Him!!
At the end of the 40 days, He ascended to heaven. He couldn’t be everywhere at one time, so He sent the Holy Spirit to be with us to comfort, guide, and lead us. He would live in our hearts. Talk about BONUS! God the Father. God the Son. God the Holy Spirit. All for ONE! And, ONE for all!!!
What does that “seminar” with His disciples have to do with you and me today? First of all, because He lives, we can face whatever this day, and for that matter, what our tomorrows hold. When we watch the news on TV or read about it on social media and hear the gloom and despair of what awaits the world daily, we don’t have to be a member of that choir that only sings songs of dread and fear. Honestly, Christ’s resurrection is the ANSWER TO EVERYTHING — past, present AND future. Our God reigns supreme — over all and that changes our perspective on EVERYTHING.
I’m not a stellar scientific know-it-all, but I know this. When I look up at the night sky and I see the stars and when I am outside on a sunny day and see the beauty all around me and I hear birds chirping, feel the wind against my skin and as I live in such sweet peace that passes understanding, I know it’s because my Savior, my King of Kings and Lord of Lords LIVES. One day of celebrations just isn’t enough. Let’s keep celebrating this miraculous, life-changing season of Easter everyday!