It shouldn’t feel weird.
But it does.
Easter isn’t about anything but the cross.
It’s about a journey taken for the salvation of our souls.
It’s about a gift so great, all of creation is affected.
Yet, here I sit.
Thinking things feel weird.
No church.
No family gathering.
Weird.
How must it have felt that first Easter morning-
When the sun peeked over the edge of the earth and the rays illuminated the land?
The moment where you open your eyes and remember what has happened.
The heaviness and ache.
The first fluttering thought.
The disciples and all the people had just witnessed the death of Jesus.
His body now sealed in a tomb.
Guards placed to be sure that the body wasn’t stolen.
Grief.
Shock.
Despair.
Uncertainty.
Much like many of us feel these days.
These were the feelings occupying the hearts and minds of those who dearly loved Jesus.
Yet soon shouts and exclamations that, “He is Risen!”
Would permeate the area.
Door to door; house to house the word who travel.
And the hush and weight would soon give way to joy and praise.
God had done what he said he would do.
Ancient prophecy fulfilled.
The son of man had given all.
God had taken that surrender and brought forth the greatest miracle of all time.
The lack of church services and family gatherings can not change the truth of that.
I know it feels weird.
There is nothing that can affect the power of the resurrected Christ.
No virus, no weapon of man will ever change the holiness and wonder of Christ rising from the dead.
Their mourning was turned to rejoicing.
The hope of all time was upon the people.
Jesus had died for our sins so that we might have ever lasting life.
A promise so freely given.
To all.
While it feels weird to not walk through the timeless traditions,
I can’t help but wonder if this will be the greatest Easter we’ve ever celebrated?
Our need to walk to the cross.
We lay our burdens down;
Burdens of a Pandemic, job loss, financial ruin, death of loved ones, uncertainty and fear.
They were all gathered on the cross by the One who called us into being.
Isaiah 53:5
But he was pierced for our transgressions,
he was crushed for our iniquities;
The punishment that brought us peace was on him,
and by his wounds we are healed.
We are healed.
He has come so that we may have life.
Everlasting life.
As we celebrate, for many of us, in unorthodox ways, may we remember that today is about the Cross.
The cross that brought us life.
That wonderful, awful cross.
The sunshine spills over the mountain this morning.
The joy thief is loosening His grip on my farmer.
I have more questions than answers about our future.
But I am holding fast to the cross.
I am walking in the rays of the Risen Lord.
The hope of glory.
My soul rests.
My heart is surrendered.
Though we won’t hear the choir and brass, we won’t greet each other with joyful embraces;
We know that this risen Lord is fighting on our behalf.
He is longing for His people to humble themselves and draw near.
He longs to comfort us and bring us peace.
May you cast off panic for peace today and turn fear to faith.
Matthew 28:5-7
Then the angel spoke to the women. “Don’t be afraid!” he said. “I know you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified. 6He isn’t here! He is risen from the dead, just as he said would happen. Come, see where his body was lying. 7And now, go quickly and tell his disciples that he has risen from the dead, and he is going ahead of you to Galilee. You will see him there. Remember what I have told you.”
There are those that are mourning deeply today and we know that shattered ache.
There are many walking in fear, for many reasons.
We here at the Davis Farm are hoping that you can lay down those burdens today and
know you are loved beyond anything you could ever imagine.
There is hope.
There is peace during these uncertain times.
And there is an unspeakable joy that is there for you.
