Dearest Grace …
Palm Sunday is just around the corner which means Easter will be upon us before we know it! This is somewhat hard for me to believe. The year feels like it is going by so quickly yet even as time flies by, there are certain things that can help stabilize us this time of year: the journey of Lent and the hope of Easter Sunday.
The weeks of Lent are meant to prepare us for Easter. Lent has been a time for each of us to take a long, hard look at what is in our heart. It has been a time to allow God to show us the work He’s ready to do, in your life individually as well as in our lives collectively as a body. Each of us is unique which means the Lord has each of us on a unique journey, but in our unique journeys, we grow together. I pray that with every step you’ve taken through Lent, you’ll remember, as Tony Evans has said, “When God takes you from where you are to where He wants you to be, he is not only taking you to the place. In the process of taking you there, He is preparing you for the place.” This is why Lent and Easter are tied together. The journey of Lent is meant to prepare us for the hope of Easter.
The Holy Spirit has used my journey through Lent to reveal my selfishness, my desire for comfort, my lack of contentment, and my inability to always follow through with what I chose to “give up” over Lent. In short, it’s revealed my need for a Savior, not just a Savior who died on the cross, but a Savior who rose from the grave! The cross is central to our salvation, but what God accomplished there is incomplete unless the tomb is empty on Sunday morning. Without the resurrection nothing has been conquered—not sin, not death, not the devil. Lent has prepared me for the hope of Easter by reminding me, as the song we have been singing so beautifully on Sunday mornings says, “I’m fighting a battle you’ve already won.”
All of this has reminded me of what the angel told the women when they went to the tomb on Easter morning: “And the angel said to them, ‘Do not be alarmed. You seek Jesus of Nazareth, who was crucified. He has risen; he is not here. See the place where they laid him. But go, tell his disciples and Peter that he is going before you to Galilee.’” ~ Mark 16:6-7
I love that the angel specifically said to be sure to “tell Peter.” If you know the story, Peter was the one who was bold for Jesus, who then ran away from Jesus, and eventually denied even knowing Jesus. Peter’s journey was full of ups and downs, victories and defeats. If anyone needed the hope of resurrection it was Peter. One person said, “Jesus sought out Peter in his shame, not to condemn but to restore him.” He will do the same for you. Resurrection means no one is too far gone, too deep in sin and shame that they cannot be restored and redeemed. No one … including you. Let’s believe that for each other.
I have swung and missed more times than I can count, but Jesus took my sin and gave me His righteousness. A risen Savior is my greatest hope in life and in death.
He is risen. He is risen indeed.
Allow me to encourage you to pray for our Easter gatherings and all those who will be attending. Pray that all who attend would find themselves noticed and loved, by God as well as by the people of God. Pray that all who will be gathered forsake self-reliance and collapse on Jesus, trust His work, and experience the hope and power of the resurrection in our lives.
I would also encourage you to consider attending a gathering and serving at a gathering. You can learn more about how to do that right here. We also will be hosting our Holy Week gatherings all next week from 7:30am to 8:00am, followed by a light breakfast for those able to stay.
I’m grateful for you and thankful to be one of the pastors at Grace. I look forward to gathering with you on Sunday!
Pastor Rich