Easter Changes
“He is not here: for He is risen, as He said. Come, see the place where the Lord lay.” Matthew 28:6
EASTER CHANGES
I’ll never believe it was by coincidence that Jesus’ resurrection happened during the Spring season. I believe God planned it that way. Springtime and Easter just naturally go together because they share a common theme . . . CHANGE. As I share these thoughts today, we’re enjoying the changes that Spring always brings with it. The temperatures have warmed up; the grass is green and growing; the flowers are blooming; the trees are filling up with their leaves; and the dogwoods have come out from their hiding. What a beautiful change Springtime brings!
And it’s the changes during Springtime that should remind us of the much more wonderful changes that Jesus and His resurrection made possible. Martin Luther said, “Our Lord has written the promise of the resurrection, not in books alone, but in every leaf in Springtime.”
FOUR WONDERFUL CHANGES BECAUSE OF EASTER:
- THE DAY OF WORSHIP
Before the resurrection, God’s people worshiped on the Sabbath (7th) day…our Saturday. But the Bible clearly states the sabbath day worship of the Lord came to an end. Matthew recorded it when he wrote, “In the end of the Sabbath…” (Matt. 28:1). When did the worship of the Lord on the 7th day end? Matthew said it ended that first resurrection morning. And the resurrection of Jesus was so amazing that the first century Christians began the new day of worship on the first day of the week…our Sunday.
Acts 20:7 says, “And upon the first day of the week when the disciples came together” to worship the Lord. Christ’s resurrection marked the beginning of a new day of worship. Because of Easter, we now worship on the first day of the week. The Psalmist prophesied of the new day of worship when he said, “This is the day the Lord hath made, we will rejoice and be glad in it” (Ps. 118:24). Sunday is the Lord’s day…”the day the Lord hath made” possible by His resurrection! His day, the first day, is the most important day of the week! And the place His day has in our lives speaks of the priority He has in our hearts . . . Amen?!
- THE CROSS
Because of Easter, the cross is looked upon in a much different light today. We decorate the walls of our homes with beautiful pictures of the cross. We wear silver or gold crosses as jewelry. But in Jesus’ day, the cross was despised and feared. The cross was considered the most torturous and shameful way a person could die. For a person to wear a cross necklace in that day would be like someone wearing a tiny symbol of an electric chair as jewelry today. That would get you a lot of strange looks for sure. But the light of that first Easter morning changed the meaning of the cross forever! When God raised His Son from the dead, He was confirming that He accepted the payment Jesus made on the cross when He died for our sins! The shame of the cross was changed to glory because of Easter!
- THE GRAVE
Before that 1st Easter, the grave spelled the end for everyone. The grave was the prison from which no one could escape. But when those ladies came to Jesus’ tomb, the angel declared the wonderful news, “For He is not here: He is risen as He said.” Why was that such wonderful news? Because Jesus led the way for us! Paul later refers to Jesus’ resurrection as “the firstfruits of them that sleep.” (Those believers whose bodies have been laid to rest – I Corinth. 15:20). The term “firstfruits” refers to the first of many crops to be harvested. Jesus was the first of many, many more resurrections to come! Because of Jesus’ resurrection, those of us who know Jesus as our Savior, will be a part of the great harvest of resurrections in the future! You and I have the hope and assurance of life beyond the grave because of Easter! Praise the Lord! Because of Easter, the grave is no longer the end, but the beginning of an eternity with our Lord!
- THE HEARTS AND LIVES OF ALL WHO BELIEVE
Because of Easter, the heart of anyone can be changed forever! Because Jesus lives, He will come into the heart and life of any person who will receive Him by faith and bring an indescribable change!
ELVIE CRIMM
Mr. Elvie, the owner of a machine shop in Forest, MS, is one of many, many individuals I’ve personally witnessed over years who experienced the change Jesus can make in a person’s life. As I recall, this dear man was facing a tremendous difficulty in his life that had broken his heart. I went by his shop to see him one day. After he poured out his heart to me about the troubles he was going through, I shared the gospel with him and asked him if he would pray and give his heart and life to the Lord. He said, “I will, Bro Doug!” I’ll never forget how we knelt on the cement floor of that machine shop and he prayed and invited Christ into his heart! Before I could encourage him to come to church and get involved, he said, “Brother Doug, I’ll see you at church! You can look for me this Sunday!” One of his workers overheard him tell me that. He said, “I’ll be there too, Brother Doug! I’ve gotta see this…Elvie Crimm in church? I’ve known this man for many years and he’s never been in the doors of a church to my knowledge! I’ll believe it when I see it!”
Well, Mr. Elvie Crimm came . . . and the guy who worked for him came and witnessed it. I can still remember what his worker said after church. He kept saying, “I’ve seen it with my eyes, but I still can’t believe it! Elvie Crimm actually came to church! This is amazing! Now, I’m convinced the Lord can change anybody!” And it was very rare, on any given Sunday morning after that day, that I didn’t see that shiny bald head of Mr Elvie sitting on the back pew of that church ready to receive God’s Word!
WHAT ABOUT YOU?
Have you experienced the change in your heart that Easter made possible? If not, why not? If not, why not invite Him into your heart today? His promise is, “Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If any man opens the door, I will come in…” (Rev. 3:20). Open the door of your heart today and simply ask Him into your life! Think it over…
Think It Over!
Doug Pierce is a Church planter and a pastor. In 2003 he started, and continues to pastor First Independent Methodist Church in Madison, Mississippi. His #1 priority is to glorify God in all aspects of ministry. He does this through teaching his congregation to Love God, Love One Another, and Love Others to God. Prayer, outreach, and church growth through evangelism are vital parts of his ministry. He and his wife Suzanne live in Madison, Mississippi where they also enjoy their children and grandchildren.
Photo by Wallpaper Safari
My wife and I will be at our parish church in Shoreline, Washington indeed this Friday for Good Friday services, and Easter on Easter Sunday.