“Happy Easter” images and resurrection themed posts filled social media in the days leading up to Easter. Church services and special activities were advertised and well attended. Then came the family photos of holiday gatherings, egg hunts and Easter baskets.
Now, just a few days later, the holiday is behind us and for many it’s life as usual. Yet, I’m unwilling to let it go. Because, for the Christ follower, Easter isn’t a one-day deal. It’s a daily deal.
It’s the daily awareness of what Jesus said, did, and endured for each of us. It’s an awareness of the magnitude of our own sin, and the penalty we deserve. It’s realizing Jesus took our guilt upon himself, willingly and intentionally. It’s considering the unimaginable and undeserved abuse, shame and suffering he endured. It’s all the details –Jesus struggling to carry his cross; a thief’s confession and spiritual birth as he hung next to His Savior. It’s three hours of darkness as life slipped from the one called the Light of the World. It’s the significance of graves opening and the torn temple curtain. It’s trying to comprehend the incomprehensible love of Jesus.
It’s waking up each day remembering and rejoicing that the women who loved Jesus found an open grave and received angelic instructions. It’s the wonder of a resurrected Jesus sharing food and conversation with his followers, eventually appearing to hundreds of people before ascending into heaven.
It’s his parting instructions to us, “Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.” (Matthew 28:19-20 ESV).
For Christ followers, Easter is daily dying to self, hearing and heeding the Holy Spirit’s leading. And it’s Easter every day!
Easter Every Day
Each new dawn proclaims
Jesus is Creator, King and Savior
The stone, moved
The cloth, folded
He is risen!
Praise Him!
Each new dawn proclaims
Willing and inexpressible
Suffering by a Holy King
His own blood offered
Purchasing my eternity!
Praise Him!
Each new dawn proclaims
I am His!
The unceasing miracle
His Spirit within
Praise Him!
Easter every day!
~ P. D. McMilian
Beautiful!
Thank you, Tom!
You spoke truth and love. What a beautiful way you have with words. Being a Christ follower, it is Easter every day. Thank you Pamela for writing that and reminding everyone of Jesus’ love for us.
Thank you, Cindy!