Dear Northside
Last weekend we looked at the death and resurrection of our Saviour and Lord Jesus Christ.
Why do you look for the living among the dead? He is not here; He has risen! — Luke 24:5-6
These words are epic, groundbreaking, world-changing. Every word falls short of capturing the magnitude of Easter Sunday. It’s the most significant event in world history and in the lives of Jesus followers.
Christ is risen from the dead!
It was early Sunday morning when the women went to the tomb to tend to Jesus’ burial site. As they approached the tomb, they were shaken because they realized the stone had been rolled away, and when they entered the tomb, they couldn’t find the body. Two angels approached them and asked, “Why do you look for the living among the dead? He is not here; He has risen!”
Then they remembered Jesus had said, “The Son of Man must be delivered over to the hands of sinners, be crucified and on the third day be raised again.”
Christ is risen from the dead!
The powers of darkness had taken their best shot at Jesus as He hung on the cross. And yet, things unfolded precisely the way Jesus said they would (Matthew 16:21). Death could not hold Jesus in the grave, and on the third day, He stepped out of the tomb. You serve a risen God who is as alive today as He was on that resurrection Sunday. No power of hell and no force of evil can prevail over Him!
Rejoice that you belong to Him and that with Him all things are possible!
It is because of the physical resurrection of Christ that you can have hope. You can have faith. You can have freedom. Your life is altered because of what you’re celebrating today. This is not just a feel-good story. This is the story that rewrites your story. When Christ rose, He proved that He is Lord. His promises are true. His Word can be trusted. His relationship with you is ever-fixed and abounding in steadfast love. And you can walk freely in mission with Him forever.
A good friend of mine said this week, every day is Easter. Let’s live our lives in the shadow and light of Easter.
Lord, I praise You, I worship You, and I thank You. I rejoice that You are alive and in control of all things.
We would love to hear from you how the Easter story spoke to you this year.
God bless, Pastor Gary