How fast a sad somber morning can change, so it was nearly 2000 years ago. The Word tells us in John 20 that Mary Magdalene came to the tomb while it was still dark, and the stone was already rolled away. Sadness, which, I am certain at that instant turned to fear, Terrible gut wrenching fear, because she thought the body of the Lord had been taken away in the night. She ran to tell the disciples what she had found, and they all then went to the tomb where Peter and John found the tomb empty and the grave clothes in the tomb. The disciples then left, and Mary, seemed to be left standing at the tomb, when she was blessed with the appearance of the Lord. And then the joy that takes place of the fear and sadness.
I got up this morning while it was still yet dark, and went to the church with my sister, where we attended a Sunrise Service. It was a beautiful, though cool morning, and I had a tiny bit of apprehension, maybe “fear” about what I was going to say. we got started a little late about 6:20 singing Christ Arose.
John W then led a devotion and spoke from Luke 23: 33-43 concerning the trial of Jesus and his sentence to death, ending with the pronouncement that the one malefactor would that day be with him in paradise. and in Luke 24: 22-26 talking about Luke’s version of the women who went to the tomb to find it empty and saw the vision of the Angels who proclaimed he was alive.
Also in Matthew 28: 16-20 where the risen Lord was commanding the disciples to baptize in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Ghost.
John admonished us that we need to bear witness to the world that Jesus has made possible, planned and executed the plan of salvation and he made it free.
My sis then gave a testimony, illustrating about how Jesus gave his life for ours, and our God allowed him to do it for us even though he did not know us but knew that if he did not go through with the plan we would have no chance. and admonished us to not spurn what Jesus had done.
I then tried to “ditto” what john and said. Being rebuked in a loving way I went ahead and used the shortest verse in scripture. John 11:35 Jesus wept.
I asked why he wept? Was it because everyone else was weeping? because Lazarus had died? Because Lazarus would have to die the 2nd time? Maybe because Jesus himself would soon die? Maybe because we will all die?
I then expressed my belief that if it had not been for the resurrection that the birth, suffering shame and death of Jesus would have been in vain. The empty tomb is THE part of the entire life of Christ that makes it possible to obtain salvation.
I then gave a brief discussion on the history of Easter, and how the date for the celebration of Easter is calculated, and a little of why.
We then went up to the shop building and enjoyed a sumptuous breakfast. homemade french toast, pancakes sausage eggs hash browns biscuits & gravy, bacon, orange juice and Coffee, maybe I did not miss too much in that list.
It was a very good way to start the day. We even had an audience of deer that attended the service this morning. about 10 of them, I was told.