I woke in a daze today after broken sleep mirroring my broken heart.
But then something felt different. A beam of sunlight found a crack in the window, and the warmth of the sun rested on my face. I could hear a sound, the sweet sound of birdsong filling the air. The silence and darkness of yesterday was broken and the beauty of song and sunlight surrounded me.
I stepped out in to the new day and wandered across to the garden where Jesus lay. There were people already there, I didn’t think anyone would be interested now he was dead. But their voices chattered excitedly.
I weaved my way through and saw what people were looking at. The open tomb and no body in sight. Where was he?
Jesus’s friend Mary had come here herself a few hours ago. She found the tomb empty and she wept. Who would have thought she had any tears left in her after the last two days. But Jesus came to her. He called her by her name and she knew it was him. He spoke in to her soul, just as his eyes had spoken deep in to mine.
Jesus is alive. Jesus is risen from the dead!
He said everything would be ok. He said there would be light after the darkness. And he was telling the truth! I can understand the excited chattering now.
I knew when I heard the disciples were to continue his work that I wanted to do that too. And now I have my first task. To share the news that he is risen from death. That he who went to the cross for us has broken the bonds of death and hell, and we can have eternal life through him.
I remember that piercing gaze as he walked the road to his death. I remember the feeling as it penetrated my soul. And now I know at that moment he began to live in me and my life will never be the same again.
Such joy fills the air today, such hope and light. Bad days will come, shadows will darken the light, but I must hold on to the fact that we are an Easter people. The light will always come. And today we can proclaim afresh Christ is risen! He is risen indeed! Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia!
But then something felt different. A beam of sunlight found a crack in the window, and the warmth of the sun rested on my face. I could hear a sound, the sweet sound of birdsong filling the air. The silence and darkness of yesterday was broken and the beauty of song and sunlight surrounded me.
I stepped out in to the new day and wandered across to the garden where Jesus lay. There were people already there, I didn’t think anyone would be interested now he was dead. But their voices chattered excitedly.
I weaved my way through and saw what people were looking at. The open tomb and no body in sight. Where was he?
Jesus’s friend Mary had come here herself a few hours ago. She found the tomb empty and she wept. Who would have thought she had any tears left in her after the last two days. But Jesus came to her. He called her by her name and she knew it was him. He spoke in to her soul, just as his eyes had spoken deep in to mine.
Jesus is alive. Jesus is risen from the dead!
He said everything would be ok. He said there would be light after the darkness. And he was telling the truth! I can understand the excited chattering now.
I knew when I heard the disciples were to continue his work that I wanted to do that too. And now I have my first task. To share the news that he is risen from death. That he who went to the cross for us has broken the bonds of death and hell, and we can have eternal life through him.
I remember that piercing gaze as he walked the road to his death. I remember the feeling as it penetrated my soul. And now I know at that moment he began to live in me and my life will never be the same again.
Such joy fills the air today, such hope and light. Bad days will come, shadows will darken the light, but I must hold on to the fact that we are an Easter people. The light will always come. And today we can proclaim afresh Christ is risen! He is risen indeed! Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia!