Easter Readings

The beauty of the Easter story, powerfully captured  in a version of Leonard Cohen’s Hallelujah:  https://bit.ly/3Oi66cs

A crown of thorns placed on His head

He knew that He would soon be dead

He said did you forget me Father did you?

They nailed Him to a wooden cross

Soon all the world would feel the loss

Of Christ the King before His Hallelujah

Hallelujah

Hallelujah

Hallelujah

Hallelujah

He hung HIs head and prepared to die

The lifted His face up to the sky

Said I am coming home now Father to you

A reed which held HIs final sip

Was gently lifted to His lips

He drank His last and gave His soul to glory

Hallelujah

Hallelujah

Hallelujah

Hallelujah

The soldier who had used his sword

To pierce the body of our Lord

Said truly this is Jesus Christ our Savior

He looked with fear upon his sword

Then turned to face his Christ the Lord

Fell to his knees crying Hallelujah

Hallelujah

Hallelujah

Hallelujah

Hallelujah

Took from His head the thorny crown

And wrapped Him in a linen gown

And laid Him down to rest inside the tomb

The holes in His hands, His feet and side

Now in our hearts we know He died

To save us from ourselves oh Hallelujah

Hallelujah

Hallelujah

Hallelujah

Hallelujah

Three days went by again they came

To move the stone to bless the slain

With oil and spice anointing Hallelujah

But as they went to move the stone

They saw that they were not alone

But Jesus Christ has risen Hallelujah

Hallelujah

Hallelujah

Hallelujah

Hallelujah

Easter2023, 30/42

The Resurrection: This Changes Everything

The earliest Christians believed in the Resurrection not because they couldn’t find a dead body but because they found a living Christ. There is not one recorded instance of denial of the Resurrection among the Apostles or the ~500 other witnesses who saw the risen Christ. They had compelling reasons to recant, even unto their deaths. Not one.  (Note 1)

“If Jesus rose from the dead, then you have to accept all that He said. If He didn’t rise from the dead, then why worry about any of what He said? The issue on which everything hangs is not whether or not you like His teachings, but whether or not He rose from the dead.”  (Note 2)

Note 1: Adapted, Max Lucado.

Note 2: Billy Graham

Easter2023, 29/42

The Seven Next Words of Christ /2

Greetings…. Don’t be afraid.  Matthew 28:9-10

Easter2023, 28/42

The Seven Next Words of Christ /1

Why are you crying? Who are you looking for?  John 20:15

Easter2023, 27/42

He Is Risen

Passion Play, Act 8, Scene 1

Easter2023, 26/42

He is risen.   He is risen indeed!

Early Sunday morning one of the friends comes back with rags and a jug of water and a box of the grave spices that are supposed to cut down on the smell. She’s braced for the task. But when she comes to the grave she finds that the linens have been thrown into the corner and the body is gone.  Evidently anonymous burial isn’t quite anonymous enough after all.

She sits outside in the sun. Here at the edge of the desert the insects have woken up.  A bee is nosing about in a lily. The lily is like silk thinly tucked over itself, but much more perishable. It won’t last long. She takes no notice of the feet that appear at the edge of her vision. That’s enough now, she thinks. That’s more than enough.

Don’t be afraid, says Yeshua. Far more can be mended than you know. She is weeping. The executee helps her to stand up.

Adapted from Unapologetic by Francis Spufford

Easter2023, 25/42