It’s Sunday morning. Our girls are sitting at their little pink table for breakfast. To their side, is our fridge full of magnets collected from various countries we traveled to. This is their short and deep conversation.
Bella: Mommy, why the flag of Switzerland has a cross on it?
Mina: ‘Cause Jesus died on the cross.
Bella: In Switzerland?
Mina: Yes.
Two lessons from this. First, never answer for someone else. Second, wrong country.
It’s great to see that even young kids can relate the cross to Jesus. We just need to work on geography a bit more,
In Romania and Moldova, you will se a lot of crosses around the country. You’ll see them as little reminders, especially in places where there might have been accidents, close to a church, on top of a church, in various corners of a village, along the highways, around a necklace…
I don’t mind reminders. But, the one sad thing with some of them is that, I notice that Jesus is still pinned to the cross. And even when it’s not, we respond as if He is. It makes us sad.
The beauty of the Easter story is that Jesus is off the cross and out of the tomb. Too often we live our lives lacking hope and lacking peace as if Jesus is still stuck there on that piece of wood. And we’re living in fear, just as the disciples did at first.
“On the evening of that first day of the week, when the disciples were together, with the doors locked for fear of the Jewish leaders, Jesus came and stood among them and said, ‘Peace be with you!'” John 20:19
How Did The Disciples React To The Resurrection?
Overjoyed. “After he (Jesus) said this, he showed them his hands and side. The disciples were overjoyed when they saw the Lord.” John 20:20
Bold in sharing their faith. “They (The Sanhedrin) called the apostles in and had them flogged.Then they ordered them not to speak in the name of Jesus, and let them go. The apostles left the Sanhedrin, rejoicing because they had been counted worthy of suffering disgrace for the Name. Day after day, in the temple courts and from house to house, they never stopped teaching and proclaiming the good news that Jesus is the Messiah.” Acts 5:40-42
United and generous. “All the believers were one in heart and mind. No one claimed that any of their possessions was their own, but they shared everything they had.” Acts 4:32
Fearing God, not man. “Then the church throughout Judea, Galilee and Samaria enjoyed a time of peace and was strengthened. Living in the fear of the Lord and encouraged by the Holy Spirit, it increased in numbers.” Acts 9:31
How Am I Responding To The Resurrection?
I’m broken-hearted over the shame, disgrace, pain, and humility Jesus had to suffer on my behalf, so I could experience freedom in Him. Yet I am overjoyed the story doesn’t end there on a sad note. We can now wave the palm branches shouting ‘Hooray!’ and we could even do a happy dance because He Is Risen!
A few years ago, I was in my dad’s church and a deacon (also a great friend of ours) was preaching that Easter Sunday. I’ve never seen a preacher more excited to share that Jesus is alive, as if he was there at the empty tomb. He was almost jumping out of his shoes. And, he is even a baptist.
So, let’s jump out of our shoes for joy that He is Risen!
Oh, wait. You may think, those that have their life all together could do that, but that’s not you today. Not in a celebratory mood.
Yes. Life is full of surprises, and not fun ones a lot of the times. As I’m writing, I wish a lot of our circumstances were different too. My hope was for this week to be up and running getting many things ready to prepare for Easter. After that, we would travel to Moldova to see my family.
Yet, our girls have been sick with fever and severe coughing for the last week. Then, it got passed on to me. We’re doing doctors’ visits and more tests to confirm if we are dealing with strep. Strep is last thing a cardiac patient needs to deal with. So, we are praying that my husband will stay healthy as he is trying to manage the two coughing sisters as they sing their chorus and their feverish mom. Concerning our travels, the girls got used to praying ‘Jesus, please help us not to cancel again.’ That’s our story…
But, we don’t need to compare notes on who is going through more struggles. You may be going through a lot more than we are. But, I’m reminded of the verse that says “The lot is cast into the lap, but its every decision is from the LORD.” Proverbs 16:33 He knows what’s best for me. I could sit and lick my wounds and have a pity party, or I could get up (at least in spirit) and join the resurrection party going on around the globe.
Get in the mood. ‘Cause today it’s not about us. It’s all about the risen Jesus.
Things I need to work on:
- Get in the mood to do a happy dance for Jesus. He did something really cool! Jesus is risen!