Christ is risen! He is risen indeed! Alleluia!
Holy Week and Easter were a disappointment in many ways. Singing in the
choir at Easter services and attending Easter breakfast at church have always
been highlights of my year, and I missed them greatly. But we can still
celebrate what Christ has done for us without all the trappings we have come to
expect.
In some ways, Holy Week is the perfect time to suffer through a
pandemic. Our suffering reminds us that we suffer because we are sinners. We
deserve the effects of this fallen world—including the coronavirus and the
current restrictions. But Christ was tempted like we are, yet without sin. [Hebrews
4:15] His suffering was undeserved but chosen. He died to save us from the
consequences of our sin. Our suffering during Holy Week reminds us of His suffering
and makes us grateful for His agonizing death on the cross and glorious resurrection.
This year I watched my son-in-law’s Easter Sunrise service and joined
in with the liturgy and hymns. After that, I watched my own church’s service,
again joining in with the liturgy and hymns. Then I had a breakfast somewhat
similar to the Easter morning ones served at church in past years. I even
dressed up in a new Easter outfit.
Was it the same as worshiping with and enjoying the fellowship of my fellow
Christians in other years? Of course not. I miss the physical interaction with
my friends and the entire congregation. But it was still a celebration of
Christ’s victory over death, and that’s what Easter is all about.
Nothing can stop Easter. The Pharisees tried to kill Jesus, and so—reluctantly—did
the Roman authorities. Satan probably danced for joy while Jesus hung on the
cross. But none of them succeeded in the end. As it says in 1 Corinthians
15:54b-57 (ESV):
“Death is swallowed up in
victory. 55O death, where is your victory? O death, where is your
sting?”
56The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. 57But
thanks be to God, who gives the us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.
As we celebrate Easter this year, I am reminded of one of my favorite
Bible passages. It’s always good to remember Romans 8:35-39, but it seems
especially appropriate right now. So my Easter post will leave you with Paul’s
words as taken from the English Standard Version.
35Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or
distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger or sword? 36As
it is written,
“For your sake we are being killed all the day long,
we are regarded as sheep to
be slaughtered.”
37No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who
loved us. 38For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels
nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, 39nor
height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation will be able to separate us
from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Christ is risen! He is risen indeed! Alleluia!
__________
The
picture is a stone relief on the exterior of the Helsinki Cathedral in
Helsinki, Finland. I took the photo during a trip there in 2019.
