Easter, New Life for Us All

April 5, 2015
Opening Hymns:
322 Up from the Grave He Arose http://www.hymnsite.com/lyrics/umh322.sht

Scripture Reading:
John 20:1-18
20:1 Early on the first day of the week, while it was still dark, Mary Magdalene came to the tomb and saw that the stone had been removed from the tomb.

20:2 So she ran and went to Simon Peter and the other disciple, the one whom Jesus loved, and said to them, "They have taken the Lord out of the tomb, and we do not know where they have laid him."

20:3 Then Peter and the other disciple set out and went toward the tomb.

20:4 The two were running together, but the other disciple outran Peter and reached the tomb first.

20:5 He bent down to look in and saw the linen wrappings lying there, but he did not go in.

20:6 Then Simon Peter came, following him, and went into the tomb. He saw the linen wrappings lying there,

20:7 and the cloth that had been on Jesus' head, not lying with the linen wrappings but rolled up in a place by itself.

20:8 Then the other disciple, who reached the tomb first, also went in, and he saw and believed;

20:9 for as yet they did not understand the scripture, that he must rise from the dead.

20:10 Then the disciples returned to their homes.

20:11 But Mary stood weeping outside the tomb. As she wept, she bent over to look into the tomb;

20:12 and she saw two angels in white, sitting where the body of Jesus had been lying, one at the head and the other at the feet.

20:13 They said to her, "Woman, why are you weeping?" She said to them, "They have taken away my Lord, and I do not know where they have laid him."

20:14 When she had said this, she turned around and saw Jesus standing there, but she did not know that it was Jesus.

20:15 Jesus said to her, "Woman, why are you weeping? Whom are you looking for?" Supposing him to be the gardener, she said to him, "Sir, if you have carried him away, tell me where you have laid him, and I will take him away."

20:16 Jesus said to her, "Mary!" She turned and said to him in Hebrew, "Rabbouni!" (which means Teacher).

20:17 Jesus said to her, "Do not hold on to me, because I have not yet ascended to the Father. But go to my brothers and say to them, 'I am ascending to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God.'"

20:18 Mary Magdalene went and announced to the disciples, "I have seen the Lord"; and she told them that he had said these things to her.

Message:
Today death has been conquered. Weeping has turned into shouts of joy. For though our Lord and Savior died for us, he has risen! Death had no hold on Him. We are freed from our sin, and we are saved from the death and punishment that was to befall us.

We celebrate Easter in the spring. Looking outside, and seeing the green start to poke through the dirt is so exciting. Though the weather seems to change slowly, it’s easy to see that spring is finally on its way. Life is coming back into the ground. Something in my spirit lifts when I smell the new smells, and see the new sights that spring brings.

However, sometimes the challenges of life, and the struggles that we face make it difficult to celebrate. Through our guilt from sin we might not understand how God can forgive us. We might not know how great God’s love is. It can be hard to let go of our winter, and accept the new life that can sprout in us.

Today as I read the scriptures and sing the hymns I try to let the winter in my heart melt. Accepting the forgiveness that comes from Jesus, and allowing the new life to grow through my sin and mistakes. There is a Savior. He brings us something more beautiful than spring. A new life for each and every one of us.      

Time of Prayer
Dear Heavenly Father, thank You for the changing of the seasons in our world, and in our lives. Let us accept the beautiful gift of love and forgiveness that You have given us through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen


The Lord’s Prayer


Closing Hymn
327 Crown Him with Many Crowns http://www.hymnsite.com/lyrics/umh327.sht

Christ is risen!

He is risen indeed! Alleluia!