Yesterday was an amazing Sunday, full with passion, excitement, enthusiasm, faith and promise. It was a day exactly like any other Sunday at the First Presbyterian Church of Brandon.
When I say “exactly like any other Sunday,” I mean that Resurrection power is not a special occasion phenomenon around here, because the vibrant life of the risen Jesus is actually coded into our DNA.
PUNCH: Sure, Easter Sunday has an extra punch. It’s what happens when over 600 people show up instead of the usual 400. But, while there were 28 in the Praise Band, for example – only three were guest musicians. The fundamental spirit of worship at First Presbyterian was same as always. This place rocks all the time; that is the “So-what?” of Easter.
Today – the day after Easter – is the bottom-line point of my REACHING TOWARD EASTER study. The 47 days of preparation leading up to yesterday’s celebration had the common thread of making sure we laid out a devotional trajectory through Lent that guaranteed we would arrive at Easter having already been somewhere with Jesus.
A BEGINNING: I didn’t conclude the book with Resurrection Day because Easter as a conclusion is poor theology. Easter as a new beginning is something else entirely.
An Easter Sunday that means anything at all must set up an Easter Monday – and beyond – that is transformational. In defeating death, Jesus pushed open a previously unbreached doorway. Now it is up to us to walk through.
INVITATION: My invitation for all of us today is to live as if Jesus really did:
- Defeat death
- Sideline purposelessness
- Establish a kingdom he invites us to occupy NOW
- Light a fire that can never be extinguished
- Place a light resident within us that will ALWAYS overcome darkness
- Offer meaning and purpose in place of disillusionment and defeat
- Let us loose as “Eighth-Day Believers” and conscious participants in the Second Week of Creation.
But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light – 1 Peter 2:9
We are redeemed people! Resurrected, restored, rejuvenated, rescued and renewed. For 49 deliberate days, we have been reaching toward Easter. Now it’s time to revel in the resurrection!
– DEREK
I totally agree with the So-what of Easter. I am blessed to attend a church that worships a risen Savior. The praises and worship for Jesus Christ are very present during our Sunday services. I was truly blessed with the book. I shared excerpts , as I taught Adult Sunday School. Thank you for sharing your walk of faith in Jesus Chrisst. I will never view the Lenten season in the same way gain.
Thanks for your comment. And I’m glad REACHING TOWARD EASTER was a blessing for you and your church.
Peace – DEREK
Hi, Derek! Easter is the day when Jesus’s story really begins. In reality, everything in the Gospels is really just a prelude (though a substantial one) to what the defeat of death in Jesus really means. In television terms, Easter is the “to be continued” message we sometimes see at the end of a program’s episode. Abundant Peace and Blessings, Henry
That’s right, Henry.
See you at First Lakeland Sunday?