Brothers and sisters in Christ,
I pray you and yours are well.
Knowing that someone will respond to what you say with positive emotions and lots of energy is exhilarating. You look forward to saying the words you will speak to them.
When I asked Cathy to dance with me for the very first time, I wasn’t sure how she would respond. I was very happy when she said “yes.”
When I got down on one knee in the restaurant on the 95th floor of the John Hancock building in downtown Chicago and proposed to her, I was pretty sure she would accept—and she did. And boy, was I happy!
On Easter Sunday I will proclaim these words to you: “He is RISEN!!” And I already look forward to hearing your exuberant, enthusiastic, and full-throated response, “He is RISEN INDEED, ALLELUIA!!”
This is the moment of truth for us as Christians! Jesus is raised! He conquered sin, death, and the devil! Because He lives, we can live forever. United with Him in our Baptism, we also have victory here and in Heaven…forever! You and I have the Easter joy of living in the reality of eternal life already!
Because we know that we have the victory in Jesus, we can face all the challenges that come with living in a fallen creation—job insecurity, medical challenges, world crisis, and more.
We have the peace which surpasses all human understanding because our wisdom is from God. Our perspective is the Passion of Christ, who endured the cross, scorned its shame, that He would sit down at the right hand of the Father.
I want to encourage you—bring a friend to church with you this Easter. May our chorus grow even LOUDER!
V/r
Pastor Jim