It Was Easter Last Weekend...Now What?

With Easter in the rearview mirror, I can't help but want to ask, "Now what?"

I mean, regardless of your opinion of Easter, you probably participated in some traditions right? Some new, some perhaps passed down for generations.

Things like...

• An Easter egg hunt
• A new Spring dress for church
• Family dinner
• Chocolate bunnies
• Giving up something for Lent
• Attending church services that reflect both the events of Good Friday and Easter Sunday

You might have others to add to this list.

But when it's all said and done, what was it for? Or to ask it another way, "What difference does it all make?"

From Misfits to Messengers

If you read the story of Jesus' life & ministry which lasted about 3 years, (and can be found in the gospels, Matthew, Mark, Luke & John) you see Jesus starts out by calling out his original followers, known as disciples.

These guys were not your "go to" guys back in the day but a collection of misfits and outcasts.

(This fact alone should be of great encouragement to you and me)

Even after spending 3 years with Jesus, these guys really didn't get it. They often didn't understand Jesus' teaching, and even argued their place in the kingdom of God, all while Jesus was predicting his own death.

In fact, if you read the events leading up to and including the death of Jesus, on Good Friday, you might conclude that these guys were a bunch of failures. To the point where each one of them bailed on Jesus when it mattered most.

One openly betrayed him for some silver coins, another denied knowing him, and ultimately, they all left.

Thankfully the story doesn't end there. Not only is Jesus' resurrection on Easter Sunday the cornerstone of the Christian faith, it also became the turning point for these guys who up until now, fell short, miserably.

These once timid and weak men, now lead the way by proclaiming the good news of the gospel, even with the threat of persecution and death. In fact, almost all of them were killed for their dedication and commitment to tell everyone they could that Jesus didn't just die for our sin, but He rose again and that was enough to turn this group of misfits into great messengers.

These guys who once hid in fear, now lived with great confidence and boldness. Not in their own efforts but because God had equipped them to carry out the message of love, and redemption.

Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. ¹⁹ Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, ²⁰ and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” Matthew 28:18-20

They preached to large crowds and went from town to town sharing the good news.

For the disciples, Easter changed everything. They went from misfits to God's messengers.

So I ask again, what difference did easter weekend make for us?

Have we just gone back to what we know, what is familiar and comfortable?

Or has Easter truly changed us?

From last week's post...

"Jesus didn't die for our affirmation...but for our transformation!

Last week I referred to what Jesus said in Luke 9:23...

"If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself, and take up his cross daily and follow me."

Jesus’ command to “take up your cross and follow Me” is a call to humility and self-sacrifice. We must be willing to die in order to follow Jesus. Dying to self is an absolute, to surrender to God.

Dying to our way of thinking, to our way of doing things, to our version of how to live, period. Jesus calls us to surrender, sacrifice and to serve, not half-hearted allegiance; our response to the "what" and "why" of Easter.

So again I ask...

Q. What was the point of all our traditions?

Q. What's the message of your life? What is it that you communicate to others by how you live?

Until next time - Dan