Easter Reflections . . . .

He is Risen . . . and He’s coming again!

Yesterday morning, Easter Sunday, I looked out our upstairs peek-a-boo window and was delighted to see the white blossoms on our serviceberry tree FINALLY in full bloom.  It may seem a small thing to you, but since the beginning of March, as trees erupted into their blossom finery all around our town, our serviceberry stubbornly held its buds so tightly closed that I found myself impatiently wondering, “Why are you taking so long?!”

Finally, on Good Friday, its first blossoms began to open
and Hope burned warm in my heart
as I realized it would come into full bloom on Easter Sunday . . .
and it DID!

It was a small thing compared to the wondrous celebration of Christ’s Resurrection.  But for me it was truly a gift to see the evidence of His faithfulness–shared just between my Lord and I.  In fact, even as I enjoy the blossoms of yesterday and today,  I know they will soon depart with the blowing wind and rain that are sure to come because, even now, the real goal is in producing its fruit of small berries that my husband and I will gladly share with visiting cardinals, catbirds and squirrels–feasting upon them as spring works its way toward summer.  

As I contemplate the blessing of blossoms on Easter and its simple fruit to come later this spring, my mind turns to another tree . . . the Cross where Christ’s blood poured out for the salvation of all who would choose to trust and glorify Him. On that day there was the cruel horror of the death of an innocent Jesus witnessed by a mocking crowd. That day, the day we call Good Friday–with good being translated into Olde English as holy–marks the final work Jesus came to accomplish on the Cross. The goodness came three days later. with an earthquake, the resurrection of Jesus and a tomb discovered empty:

The angel said to the women, “Do not be afraid,
for I know that you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified.
He is not here; He has risen, just as He said.
Come and see the place where He lay. Then go quickly and tell His disciples:
‘He has risen from the dead and is going ahead of you into Galilee.
There you will see Him’ . . . .”
Matthew 28: 6-7

What wondrous assurance:

“DO NOT BE AFRAID . . .
HE HAS RISEN JUST AS HE SAID!”

As I contemplate the angel’s words to the women who had come to tend to Jesus’s body, I can recall several seasons in my life when fear has gripped my heart and I have been tempted to hold onto resentment and/or bitterness because of the unfair way I had been treated.  It was in those seasons, that darkness loomed most pervasively in my heart and mind.   However, I also remember experiencing the relief and healing of those wounds–TRUE FREEDOM–as I chose to trust His call to forgive and leaned on Him to help me actually do it.  (True forgiveness when it comes to healing deep hurt is a process (not an event) and often requires perseverance with God’s help.)

There are two passages in Scripture that I have found especially helpful when it comes to beating back the temptation to hold onto festering hurt.  The first one is a passage found in Colossians 3:

“Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. Bear with each other and forgive one another . . . .
Forgive as the Lord forgave you.”
(Verses 12-14)

I especially love how, before calling us to the difficult task of forgiveness, the Apostle Paul reminds us of our identity in Christ:

CHOSEN . . . HOLY . . . and DEARLY LOVED!

With our identity in Christ brought to the forefront, Paul then calls us to draw from the royalty that is ours IN CHRIST, by putting on robes of:

Compassion, Kindness, Humility, Gentleness and Patience
as HE works Forgiveness in our hearts.

(As a fun aside: Every time I think about this passage, I hear the deep rolling rumble of a set of old closet doors in our bedroom upstairs.  When the rumble sound stops in my mind I then picture the richness of colorful, velvety robes to be chosen according to my need. 🙂)

When I began writing this post–my first published in almost a year–I began with the sweet gift of serviceberry blossoms on Easter Sunday morning.  I had no idea that the path He would ultimately lead you and I along would lead to the importance of forgiveness  . . . the very thing that Easter is about.  Forgiveness is a gift we gratefully receive; but when life appears outright unfair, it is not always easily given.  In the final analysis I believe that what makes forgiveness difficult is that when we forgive someone of hurting us, we assume that somehow justice will be denied.  That is simply not true:

God IS a God of justice and where justice is due,
His justice will certainly will prevail!

Which leads to the second passage that I have personally found helpful and passed on to many a grateful Client. It is inspiring with its declaration to choose the freedom of light, life and love as we trust and honor Him.

“It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery . . . The only thing that counts is faith expressing itself through love.”
Galatians 5:1 and 6b

I began this post celebrating this wondrous truth:

He is Risen . . . and He’s coming again!

 Living in these ever-darkening times, it is important to remember that our God who is Sovereign and Good is faithful,  no matter how out-of-control things may appear.  Truly, as we celebrate His Coming, we can eagerly anticipate His Return with confidence and joy:

“And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying:
“Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man,
and He will dwell with them.
They will be His people,
and God Himself will be with them as their God.
‘He will wipe away every tear from their eyes,’
and there will be no more death
or mourning or crying or pain,
for the former things have passed away.”
Revelation 21:3-4

All to His Glory!