Easter. A holiday that is celebrated by many for a variety of reasons. Some see it as another opportunity to get together with family for a meal and fellowship. Some eagerly await the Easter Bunny and chocolate found in hidden eggs. Others just appreciate a day off of work or school. And others might pass the weekend away without much thought concerning Easter at all.
For believers in Christ, however, Easter carries much more weight and significance for us… at least it should. I am sure that many people who grew up going to church can remember the story being read in their Sunday School classes with flannel graphs, bright-colored storybooks, and the vivid imagery of Jesus’ victory over death on our behalf. They may remember the sanctuary being bright and full of light, flowers, and triumphant organ music. It is a story and a scene that is familiar to many, but how often is this familiarity, had by so many especially in the church, the cause for the significance and impact to be downplayed to some degree? The fact is that for many of us, when we hear the account of Easter, we can tend to tune out a bit and say, “Yeah, I have heard that all before. Great story.” But do we realize the true magnitude of Christ being raised from the dead?
His victory over the grave, death, the devil, and our sins leaves us with a new reality. We are no longer alienated from God the Father because of our wrongdoing and life of rebellion against him. Instead, in accordance with God’s plan from the beginning of time, we have been reconciled to be members of his family because of the once-for-all sacrifice of his Son, Jesus Christ. Because of this sacrifice, those who believe, can eagerly await, with expectant hope, the day when we, like Jesus, will be raised to life to live with our Heavenly Father. It is this reality that can be the cause of much joy and excitement. This age-old story should still leave us with a mark. It is my prayer that I would constantly be reminded of the grace shown to me on that very first Easter morning and the continued grace given to me by God. This story should never be one that gets tucked away as just some familiar tale. It is the story of our redemption and our present reality. Though we are far from deserving his goodness to us, may we desire to live in a way that reflects who he is and what he has done for us. Amen.
Ben Bigaouette
Ben Bigaouette will be our guest speaker this Sunday, August 30th
For believers in Christ, however, Easter carries much more weight and significance for us… at least it should. I am sure that many people who grew up going to church can remember the story being read in their Sunday School classes with flannel graphs, bright-colored storybooks, and the vivid imagery of Jesus’ victory over death on our behalf. They may remember the sanctuary being bright and full of light, flowers, and triumphant organ music. It is a story and a scene that is familiar to many, but how often is this familiarity, had by so many especially in the church, the cause for the significance and impact to be downplayed to some degree? The fact is that for many of us, when we hear the account of Easter, we can tend to tune out a bit and say, “Yeah, I have heard that all before. Great story.” But do we realize the true magnitude of Christ being raised from the dead?
His victory over the grave, death, the devil, and our sins leaves us with a new reality. We are no longer alienated from God the Father because of our wrongdoing and life of rebellion against him. Instead, in accordance with God’s plan from the beginning of time, we have been reconciled to be members of his family because of the once-for-all sacrifice of his Son, Jesus Christ. Because of this sacrifice, those who believe, can eagerly await, with expectant hope, the day when we, like Jesus, will be raised to life to live with our Heavenly Father. It is this reality that can be the cause of much joy and excitement. This age-old story should still leave us with a mark. It is my prayer that I would constantly be reminded of the grace shown to me on that very first Easter morning and the continued grace given to me by God. This story should never be one that gets tucked away as just some familiar tale. It is the story of our redemption and our present reality. Though we are far from deserving his goodness to us, may we desire to live in a way that reflects who he is and what he has done for us. Amen.
Ben Bigaouette
Ben Bigaouette will be our guest speaker this Sunday, August 30th
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