Live Holy Week: Easter Sunday
Remember all those things of the past week? Now they’ve all been forgiven and wiped away. Those you hurt and those who hurt you are reconciled. The Easter Power is real and live-able. Don’t just remember Easter – live it!
Something strange happened. Just when everything was lost, all hopes dashed, there came a spiritual awakening. A new Kingdom began by God’s own doing. Jesus really was the Warrior-King like David - the greatest for all time King. Fear, sin and the threat of death haven't gone away, but their power over us is gone. Jesus’ way is a way that lives free in God’s Kingdom while living on an earth where most still live in fear. But now a new message of hope, faith and love overtakes us. The foundation of the new Kingdom of the heart and mind is here. Christ is victorious!
God's Kingdom is not an earthly kingdom. It's a Kingdom of the heart, unseen yet infinitely powerful. Jesus has unleashed this new Kingdom in our world, and there is no stopping it. Throughout the 2000 years since Jesus died, thousands of countries and cities have been destroyed, yet the Kingdom of God living in the hearts of those who trust God in Christ Jesus not only survives but it thrives. About 300 years after the Roman Empire’s political machine killed Jesus, the Emperor became Christian. That didn’t happen by the weapon or the sword. It happened through the care of one another. We must each and together reach out to one person at a time. There is hope. There is newness at every death. There is freedom to be despite what others might do to you. Christ rose! He rose indeed!
Almighty God, you raised Jesus from the dead and have given us hope beyond hope. All that afflicts us -- our sorrows, the negative voices inside, hurtful voices outside, our cycles of sin -- all of these will not get the better of us. You have given us the way, the truth and the life through Christ. We have each other to lean on. We care for others and let them care for us. Together down the road of admitting wrongs, facing cycles of sin, finding a new path and trusting in Your forgiveness, we are set free more and more each day. All of this happens because of the cross of Christ. Let Your joy fill us this Easter. Amen.
Pastor Michael
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