Easter Threads
PART ONE OF A TWO-PART SERIES ABOUT EASTER
For millions of Christians around the world, Easter is more than an opportunity to sport some brand-new, pastel-crazy threads. Christianity was an explosive movement from the outset, and the powder keg that set-it-off was the resurrection of a man called Jesus on a day that we call Easter. Christians celebrate Easter Sunday as the day Jesus Christ rose from the grave to rescue us and reconnect us with a loving, Heavenly Father (Romans 3:21-25).
We all struggle to discover our place in the greater epic of life. Through my journey to understand what Easter means to me personally, I discovered two surprising and remarkable threads, or themes, found in the message of Easter. These threads are woven into the events surrounding the resurrection of Jesus, and they continue to weave their way through history as they fuel Christianity.
When we read about the repercussions of Easter in the bible, we discover that the movement which we know today as the church, was launched and sustained by people who had witnessed incredible things and had been granted extraordinary power. A small community of Jewish converts launched an unstoppable movement fueled by passion, eloquence, martyrdom and unyielding faith that spread the message of Jesus Christ. These inspired people had witnessed something amazing and remarkable power coursed through them.
Here his the first of two Easter Threads that have grown my faith and shaped my life. This first thread, Star Witnesses, is reflected in the passages below. It’s historically significant and the modern-day relevance is amazing.
1) The Star Witnesses Thread
God has raised this Jesus to life, and we are all witnesses of the fact. (Acts 2:32 TNIV)
The life appeared; we have seen it and testify to it, and we proclaim to you the eternal life, which was with the Father and has appeared to us. (1 John 1:2 TNIV)
He told them, “This is what is written: The Messiah will suffer and rise from the dead on the third day, and repentance for the forgiveness of sins will be preached in his name to all nations, beginning at Jerusalem. You are witnesses of these things. (Luke 24:46-48 TNIV)
The first disciples had witnessed Jesus perform miracles and they had felt the weight of authority in his voice, but that wasn’t what transformed them into radical evangelists willing to die for the sake of the gospel of Jesus Christ. Jesus rose from the grave and appeared to his disciples in the flesh. Any doubts that the disciples had about who Jesus really was were erased when they literally saw him as the one who had conquered death in fulfillment of the ancient prophecy of hope.
One of the most moving things for my faith journey has been hearing first-hand accounts from people whose lives were once broken, but now have been redeemed and transformed into new creations. These modern-day witnesses haven’t seen Jesus in the flesh, as the first disciples did, but they passionately profess his presence within their hearts and their life change speaks volumes. At our church, we’ll have the opportunity to hear Baptism stories that testify to this life change during our Easter Service.
Be sure the check our Part 2 of Easter Threads this Friday to read about my second Easter Thread! Have you personally encountered anyone in your life whose transformation, or life change, through Jesus really impacted you?
