In Revelation 3:20 CEB Jesus speaks and says,
Look! I’m standing at the door and knocking. If any hear my voice and open the door, I will come in to be with them, and will have dinner with them, and they will have dinner with me.
So come to the table this Easter morning … and break the bread and see for yourself.
The Table is set … there is a place just for you!
On Holy Saturday the Church waits at the Lord’s tomb, meditating on his suffering and death. Only after the solemn vigil during the day and night, does the Easter celebration begin.
On Holy Saturday long ago the followers of Christ began to gather in the safety of the Upper Room where they had days earlier dined with Jesus. They gathered to meditate on the suffering and death of Christ – Why had this happened? What was the purpose? What would they do now?
Did anyone remember the story Jesus told?
Be dressed ready for service and keep your lamps burning, like servants waiting for their master to return from a wedding banquet, so that when he comes and knocks they can immediately open the door for him. It will be good for those servants whose master finds them watching when he comes. Truly I tell you, he will dress himself to serve, will have them recline at the table and will come and wait on them. It will be good for those servants whose master finds them ready, even if he comes in the middle of the night or toward daybreak. But understand this: If the owner of the house had known at what hour the thief was coming, he would not have let his house be broken into. You also must be ready, because the Son of Man will come at an hour when you do not expect him.” Luke 12:35ff NIV
Today as we wait for Easter morning, what will you be doing?
As we wait for the return of Christ, will you be found ready?
See you at Church … I’ll be doing my best to be ready … will you join me?
(image taken at the Garden Tomb outside of Jerusalem)
Today is Good Friday.
This is the Friday before Easter Sunday and on this day Christians commemorate the suffering and death on the cross of Jesus Christ.
On the surface ‘Good Friday’ seems a ridiculous name for the day that Christ was crucified.
But let me explain …
I have a millennial print edition of Rembrandt’s etching “Descent from the Cross” hanging in my office (see image above or video below). I often stop to marvel at the detail in the etching – each pen stroke carefully placed and meticulously made – with skill and love the picture is completed. With care and love the people in the painting are lowering Christ from the cross to take Him to be buried. The detail and compassion revealed in this etching are the same reasons that this dark day is remembered as good!
God doesn’t miss a detail on this day. While Christ suffered and died on this day, He did so by making a choice to die – to die for all sinners – past, present, and future.
For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only son (John 3:16).
On this day, every detail is cared for – every prophecy complete.
Each detail is lovingly and meticulously cared for until the picture is complete and Christ can declare, “It is finished!”
The work is done. My sins forgiven. My life redeemed.
If that isn’t reason to call a day – Good. I don’t if there ever will be a day.
This day is good, but Sunday is coming and it gets even better!
See you Sunday, until then I might take another look at that picture …
Faith Matters. 