The Hope Of Easter

Rising from my slumber at 5:20 this morning wasn’t exactly enjoyable.

Seriously. I was tired, my eyes ached, and my five hours of sleep just didn’t cut it. But it’s Easter, and the thought of missing out on anything God had for me today was far less enjoyable.

I desired to hear the Easter message once again.

Sure, I could read it from my Bible, and sing the songs from home, but there’s something about experiencing it person. There’s something about sharing Easter and its message with those dear to you.

But a sunrise service we’ve never attended before??? I questioned my sanity.

Coffee and fresh-baked cinnamon rolls would help, right?

They most certainly did, and I believe they blessed my family as we traveled to the local park.

Arriving in the dark, following my brother and his family, it didn’t take me long to recognize what blessings would be found in attending this Easter service.

The message of Easter becomes more precious to me with each passing year. As each year is filled with life experiences, failures and triumphs, the hope of Easter is what encourages this heart of mine, time and time again.

I never tire of hearing its message.

I never tire of hearing the hope of Easter.

Yesterday’s truth about Good Friday prepares our hearts for today.

Jesus took all my sin, my failures, my faults, my guilt, my shame, my garbage with Him to the grave on that Friday. They are buried in His death.

But look! Today the stone is rolled away from the grave. The burial linens are folded. Jesus’ body is no longer in the tomb.

He was raised to life.

“Don’t be alarmed,” he said. “You are looking for Jesus the Nazarene, who was crucified. He has risen! He is not here. See the place where they laid him. Mark 16:6

He triumphed over death, for your sake and mine. Death did not have the final say.

The hope here is this:  Death won’t have the final say for us either. We, too, will be raised to new life for eternity when our time on earth is done. All because of Jesus. All because He lives again.

And when the trials of life come, that hope remains. We aren’t in the trials alone. That same resurrection power that raised Jesus from the dead is available for us today. He’s with us. And because He is, we have victory.

Rejoice in this hope today.

And tomorrow. And the next day. Remember the hope of Easter long after the chocolates, the lilies, the eggs are gone.

As the sun rose up over the hill, as the birds skimmed the water, and as Hallelujah Chorus came through the speakers, my heart rejoiced. I wouldn’t have wanted to be anywhere else in that moment. Getting up in the dark was so worth it.

What a way to start a day! What a way to walk through life!

Thank you, Jesus. Because of You, I live.

Enjoy this perfect song for this Resurrection Sunday…

Blessings to you!

Julie