Happy Easter!

"But on the first day of the week, at early dawn, they went to the tomb, taking the spices they had prepared. And they found the stone rolled away from the tomb, but when they went in they did not find the body of the Lord Jesus. While they were perplexed about this, behold, two men stood by them in dazzling apparel. And as they were frightened and bowed their faces to the ground, the men said to them, "Why do you seek the living among the dead? He is not here, but has risen. Remember how he told you, while he was still in Galilee, that the Son of Man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men and be crucified and on the third day rise." And they remembered his words, and returning from the tomb they told all these things to the eleven and to all the rest." Luke 24:1-9

How the angels must wonder at our surprise.  We're shocked when God rearranges "normal" for His purpose, as if we don't really believe that He is in control of everything.  To the angels, however, it made perfect sense: God kept His promise.

Everything we believe hinges on the resurrection of Jesus Christ.  "And if Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile and you are still in your sins" (1 Corinthians 15:17).  Without Easter, there would be no Christianity!  Everything we believe is founded on God's fulfillment of His promises.

Easter gives us hope because the God who was powerful enough to keep a promise made in the beginning ["he shall bruise your head" (Genesis 3:15)] is still all-powerful.  We know that He will also keep His promise to us: "'In my Father’s house are many rooms. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, that where I am you may be also'" (John 14:2-3).


Easter gives us purpose because the One who promised us great things has also given us work to complete (Ephesians 2:10).

Easter gives us victory because we are now made to be "more than conquerors" (Romans 8:37).

Easter gives us joy because that promise kept was given to us.  "See what kind of love the Father has given to us, that we should be called children of God" (1 John 3:1a)!

It's hard to believe that the God of the universe stoops to make a promise to the wretches that are so far from the holy perfection He requires.  Even more incredible is that He keeps the promise.  It truly is amazing grace!  Is it any wonder that God takes promises seriously?  His own Son took our unbearable punishment for us, to keep a promise made before time began.  Through His grace, we are now "children of promise" (Galatians 4:28).

"Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for he who promised IS faithful."
Hebrews 10:23, emphasis added

Have a wonderful Easter!