He is risen

Hi how are you? I pray you are all well and loving God. We are still in lockdown and Easter has been very different for us this year. However, I believe we are currently in a state of preparation so that is what I am doing. I am not storing food or other things but getting caught up around the house. Then I am going to spend more time with God and doing the things He has called me to do.

In this post, I want us to go back to the first resurrection week. People were still scurrying around getting their Passover lamb ready and everything else they needed to remember and celebrate Passover. Jesus and His disciples were doing the same thing. The disciples had celebrated two maybe three Passovers with Jesus and things seemed the same to them.

There were a couple of incidents that were maybe not normal. They were Jesus coming into Jerusalem riding a donkey and people shouting Hosanna to the King and then Judas mysteriously disappearing during the Passover meal. But everything was about to change. Their lives were about to be turned upside down. Jesus was arrested, tried and sentenced to crucifixion. But what about the disciples?

The disciples were all scared. What if they come for us too? Jesus had already told the soldiers to leave them alone (John 18:8). Peter went with Jesus to see what would happen but soon he would leave when he realised he had denied Jesus. John also went with Jesus but the others fled. Why was John there? At the cross, Jesus handed over the care of His mother to John. That was one of Jesus’ last actions – to take care of His mum. Which disciple would you have been on this fateful night? I am not sure but one thing I know is I would have been scared too. The disciples knew the brutality of the soldiers.

Then came Sunday morning. I find it interesting that the women went to the tomb. Were they afraid too or did their love for Jesus drive out all fear? When they arrived, there was no Jesus as He had already risen, like He said He would. The women must have been perplexed but a little excited too. Dare they believe that Jesus had risen like He said He would. The women raced back to the house and told the disciples. Two of them ran to see and then they went home. But Mary Magdalene lingered. Because of that, Jesus met her there and assured her all was good and to go and give the disciples and Peter a message.

In John 20:19, the disciples were all together in a room with locked doors because they were still afraid. Then Jesus came. Friend at the moment it seems like we are all behind locked doors, many in fear of a virus. But Jesus will still come and meet you behind your locked door, if only you will let Him.

Jesus is the risen Saviour and although this Easter may look different, Jesus knows about locked doors. On that very first resurrection, there was a lockdown of the disciples. People were scared but a Saviour was risen right in the middle of it all. Jesus hasn’t forgotten you and He won’t let you be forgotten. He is still right there and longs to walk through those locked doors. Maybe you don’t have physical locked doors but you have locked the doors of your heart. Jesus is still longing to walk through but the only difference is He now requires an invitation. Will you let Him in?

This Easter in the middle of on-line services and Easter eggs, cast your mind back and remember that first Easter. Jesus still saves today and He is still alive. That’s the good news of Easter.

Bless you heaps and keep living the life God intended.

Karen