Category: Easter

Those two commodities are in short supply these days, aren’t they?

We shouldn’t be surprised. Any time spent paying attention to the news almost surely will include reports of angry, often shouting people, protesting someone or something they’re unhappy with. That’s no surprise. People often disappoint us and let us down. So does life in general, apparently even for the rich and famous.

That inner nagger taunts us continually: Whatcha gonna do about it?

Thanks be, Easter is coming and its meaning can refresh our spirits

The Easter story really began the Friday before. A crowd gathered at a rocky hill outside Jerusalem. They could not look away from the horror unfolding before them. Three rough wooden crosses had been pounded into the rocky ground and three men had been nailed to them.

A few days before–on the day we now call Palm Sunday–Jesus, the man hanging on the center cross, had attracted cheering crowds. Now his life ebbed away as onlookers watched. Most of them had either seen him perform miracles or they had heard the reports. No one else turned water into fine wine or fed huge crowds of people with a few fish and a couple loaves of bread. Jesus stilled the raging storm and walked on water, healed the blind and the lame. Unbelievably, he even raised the dead back to life.

Now this One whom wind and water obeyed appeared to be utterly powerless.

How could this be?

After six hours Jesus drew his final breath of air

The Sabbath would begin at dusk so his followers implored the Roman guards to take his body down from the cross. Then these friends carried his body to a new tomb which had been cut into the side of a hill. They wrapped strips of linen and spices around his body, according to the custom of the times.

As for the religious authorities, they had long felt threatened by Jesus. Now they could breathe a collective sigh of relief. He was out of their way. After all, dead is dead.

It wasn’t long before new concerns filled their minds. What if someone stole his body and then pronounced it yet another miracle? The risk might be small, but these leaders pressured Roman authorities to have a boulder rolled across the tomb’s opening and seal the edges with melted wax. What’s more, armed guards were ordered to stand watch around the clock.

At last the religious leaders could relax and prepare to resume their life of power and position as before.

Then came Sunday, the third day

Just after dawn several followers of Jesus went to his grave at different times. They found the stone rolled away and the tomb empty. All that remained were the strips of linen that had been wrapped around Jesus’ body. The burial cloth that had been around His head lay by itself, neatly folded up. (John 20:5-8.)

What could this mean? Each time an angel or a pair of angels appeared and told them, “He is not here. He is risen!” (Mark 16 and Luke 24)

Only then did they recall that Jesus told them several times that He would rise. Could this be what he meant?

Over the next weeks Jesus, very much alive, appeared to his followers and friends many times. He spoke with them and touched them–and they touched him. He ate with them and told them how much he loved them. Jesus promised to send the Holy Spirit, to provide them with power so they could carry on his ministry on earth.

Their lives–and the sureness of their faith–would never be the same.

Thinking it through

God cannot die for any reason because He is eternal, without beginning and without end, therefore Jesus had to be true man. Yet Jesus had to be true God because one man cannot forgive sins or pay the price of sin for the world. Only God. Jesus was truly God and truly man (human).

Read the first few verses in the Gospel of John, which tell us the Word (Jesus) was present when God the Father created the world and everything in it. Jesus, the Son of God, came to earth as the Babe born to Mary in Bethlehem. At age 33, he began his ministry on earth, which culminated in his death on the cross. Three days later, he rose–was alive again, which is why we say he is our living Savior,

All this is beyond our human understanding

Tim Keller expressed that truth this way: “If God were small enough to be fully understood, He wouldn’t be big enough to be worshiped.”

The Bible tells us the “why” of Easter:

(Jesus said) “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only son, that everyone who believes in him shall have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.” –John 3:16 NIV

“I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.” –John 10:10 NIV

All it costs us to be a Christian is to take God at his word and trust in Jesus as our Lord and Savior. The One who brings us hope when life feels hopeless. Who speaks comfort and peace in our times of pain and loss. Who offers love when we feel loveless and alone. In Jesus, our life endures beyond death.

No wonder we can have Easter joy even on our darkest days. No wonder we celebrate Easter every year!

Blessings to you and yours,

Lenore

Found: Hope and Joy That Light Up Dark Days

March 28, 2026
Maybe you think that's impossible in your situation.

But what if it were true? Would you trade how you feel about your life now for deep-down, unshakable peace, no matter what comes?

I write this as we near the end of what Christians call the Lenten season and nearing Easter.

You may be thinking, So what? That means nothing to me except chocolate eggs and bunnies. Silliness, really.

Let's set that aside and concentrate on why Christians have celebrated Easter for centuries.

Not for treats but to remember the reason for it all.

Let's start with a brief recap

The first pages of the Bible recount how God created what we call the natural world out of nothing. (Genesis 1)

Genesis 2 tells about God creating Adam and Eve, the first two human beings. They lived in a beautiful garden and were completely at ease with their Heavenly Father. We would say, they had it all.

God laid down only one condition: Do not touch or eat the fruit of this one tree in the middle of the garden or you will die.

Then came the Devil, who spoke through the serpent. He planted doubt. (Doesn't he always?) Eve tasted the fruit and found it good, so she gave some to Adam and he, too, turned away from the Father who loved them. (Genesis 3)

Their disobedience changed everything–for them and their descendants–that's us–even to this day.

What does this have to do with me?

We all know how often we fail to live up to even our own standards. (Remember those New Year's resolutions?)

What about after we die? Most people say they want to live a good life and many think if they "do the right thing" enough of their life they will make it into Heaven.

Yet our best efforts fall short because God's desire is that we be holy, because he is holy (Leviticus 19:2.) That means to be utterly good, in thought, word and deed, 24 hours a day throughout our lifetimes. Anything else is called "sin."

You and I know we couldn't achieve that, no matter how hard we tried.

Even so, God never stopped loving. That's what Christmas is all about. The human baby born to Mary in Bethlehem, was the Son of God, and Joseph was to be his human father. (Luke, chapters 1-2)

That Baby was human, born to a human mother, but he was also God. (Luke 1:35)

So why did he die on a cross?

Let's get this straight first: Jesus was not overwhelmed and captured by those soldiers in the Garden of Gethsemane. He went with them willingly, all while knowing what would follow.

This God-man came to earth to set things right between us human beings and God. Jesus, who never sinned, allowed Himself to be nailed to the cross. For you, for me. It was all part of God's plan.

God made Him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in Him we might become the righteousness of God. 2 Corinthians 5:21

In [Christ] we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God's grace. Ephesians 1:7

Jesus died on a cross, yes, but there is more to it

If you haven't known it before, you can read the whole story in the Gospel of John, chapters 19-21.

Yes, Jesus died to pay the price for all our sins, past, present and future.

But … he rose again!

After three days in the tomb he reappeared to his followers many times. He interacted and talked with them and ate regular food with them.

Jesus even invited Thomas to touch his wounds because Thomas couldn't believe what his friends were saying.

No wonder his followers were overjoyed

You and I can share in that joy. Because Jesus lives eternally, every person who trusts and believes in him as their Lord and Savior also has eternal life.

For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish, but have eternal life.                                                                                     John 3:16

"Whoever" includes all who believe. Period.

That's why Christians celebrate Easter

It's all about love. Love that kept Jesus there on the cross. Love that never fails or walks away when we're hurting. Love that brings us joy, even in our lowest times.

This gift is available to every one of us, ours for the taking and the trusting. Will we accept it and choose to walk with the One who loves us this much?

I'm praying for you, dear invisible friends,

Lenore

Are You Longing for More Life in Your Life?

April 18, 2025
Some of us know anxiety like the back of our hands, the low-level uneasiness that never settles down.

Take a nap, take a walk, take a pill, it's still there. Sometimes we blame it on current events or relationships or family situations. Other times we can't figure out a cause for the nagging sense that something "isn't right."

Could the root cause of our unrest be a matter of the soul?

Easter, when Jesus set things right between God and us

But first came Christmas and what the angels announced to the shepherds:

For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. Luke 2:11

Jesus, true God and true man, was born as a human infant.

When Jesus was about thirty years old he began to teach and preach about God the Father and about the reason he was born.

"For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life." John 3:16

For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. Romans 6:23

Jesus gave his life for you and me, to pay the price for all the ways we fail to live the way God would have us live. That is, to live a perfect life in thought, word, or deed.

It cost Jesus everything. All it costs us is to let go of our easy skepticism and truly investigate God's written word.

Primary source material abounds. Just read the eyewitness accounts found in the Bible: Matthew, Mark, Luke and John.

The record doesn't stop there

Several respected historians of the time described the same events. One was Josephus, a well-researched and respected Jewish historian, who lived from 37-100 AD. He wrote "Jewish Antiquities" in 93 AD. Here are some excerpts from that book.

(Jesus) "a wise man … who performed surprising deeds and was a teacher of such people as accept the truth gladly … Pilate had condemned him to a cross … He appeared to them spending a third day restored to life, for the prophets of God had foretold these things and a thousand other marvels about him … And the tribe of the Christians, so called after him, has still to this day not disappeared." –Book 18, Ch. 3, part 3.

Josephus, like all historians, recorded facts, names and places. These historical accounts prove it's no myth that a man called Jesus lived and died on the cross, then three days later, he rose again to life.

What then? After that the risen Jesus, fully alive, showed himself to believers (Acts 1:3). He wanted them to know for sure that he was not a spirit or a ghost, but truly a human being. They touched him and Jesus talked with them. He ate ordinary meals with them.

After forty days he ascended to Heaven to sit at the Father's right hand.

The cross was God's way out for you and me

Our loving God knew we human beings cannot live an absolutely holy life because we all fail, all the time, even with our best efforts. We can't even live up to our own good resolutions.

For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God. Romans 3:23

If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. 1 John 1:8-9

That's why Jesus, the Son of God, came to earth to willingly die in our place.

God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God. 2 Corinthians 5:21

Jesus died so we can live free from guilt and fear of punishment and hell.

He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, that we might die to sin and live to righteousness. By his wounds you have been healed. 1 Peter 2:24

He did it all for you and me, so we could have eternal life, life that never ends.

Jesus said to him, "I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me." John 14:6

What now?

Once again we find the answers in the Bible.

If you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved. Romans 6:23

When we confess our sin to God, we hand over all our failures and mistakes and uncertainties. All of it. And we are to leave it there.

Because Jesus died in our place, our loving Father answers, "What sins? My only Son paid your debt in full. My dear child, I love you."

It's as if God looks at us through one of those lenses equipped with a filter and sees only his perfect Son.

We can swap anxiety for peace. For good

Jesus living within us means we are never left alone to fear what comes next. Not even death, because we know that's not the end of our story, either.

This is only the beginning of the good stuff.

So let the anxiety go. Take a deep breath and relax. Let yourself believe in Jesus as your Savior, knowing he will not deny you. Feel the peace of being loved and accepted by God, without any ifs, ands or buts.

Next time anxiety comes knocking, turn your mind to the chorus of the beautiful old hymn, "Turn Your Eyes Upon Jesus."

Turn your eyes upon Jesus, Look full in His wonderful face,

And the things of earth will grow strangely dim, In the light of His glory and grace.

Happy Easter! May you know the lasting the deep-down peace and joy of knowing and trusting Jesus Christ as your forever friend and Savior.

I'm praying for you, gentle reader,

Lenore

Swap Anxiety for Peace That Lasts

March 28, 2024
Every one of us runs out of optimism and hope once in awhile.

Or is it just me?

I remember one day of despair as vividly as yesterday. Warm sun coaxed forth spring blossoms and leaves on all sides and life was good, yet that day I couldn't see it or feel it–and I couldn't have told you why.

I drove home along a beautiful tree-lined boulevard, glad no one could hear me screaming.

At God. The same God I've loved and trusted since childhood. The One who said in Scripture his plans for us are good, plans to give us hope and a future. Right then He seemed cold and distant and I felt abandoned–and guilty for even thinking that way.

Do you ever have times like that?

That's why Easter matters 365 days of the year

Easter means we don't have to beat up on ourselves because we blew it. Or questioned. (Or screamed at God.)

How can that be true? Because Jesus paid for all our failures on the cross.

That's not all. He conquered Satan–the devil, the author of despair and failure–when He rose from the dead.

What's more, Jesus came back to earth and showed himself to His followers several times, fully alive and fully human, as all four
Gospel writers recount for us. These sorrowing believers touched His human flesh and were overwhelmed with rejoicing. He walked with them and talked with them and ate regular food with them. Jesus' presence transformed their depression and fear into joy and renewed faith.

Because of Easter you and I can have hope, even in our lowest moments.

Because of Easter God will never turn away from us when we get discouraged or feel we've let down everyone we love.

On our dark days we can clutch onto these promises from Scripture and hold them close to our hearts:

But God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us…For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life… Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. -Romans 5:1, John 3:16, Rom. 5:5:8

It's not about how good we are or whether we checked all the boxes. The Good News of Easter is that when we believe in Jesus as our Savior, God looks at us through Jesus and sees us as if we were perfect, like His only Son.

It is all because of Jesus that our Heavenly Father counts us worthy of love, no matter what.

Even "heroes of faith" sometimes get discouraged

The Apostle Paul often is labeled this way because of all the suffering he endured in his life. Yet he was human. Just like you and me, he asked God, "Why?"

For example, he pleaded repeatedly with God to take away his "thorn in the flesh," that mystery problem or medical condition that dogged him.

Each time God answered, "No."

Paul could have given up in despair, but he responded this way:

But [the Lord] said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me." -2 Corinthians 12:9

Whatever it was, that "thorn" troubled Paul all through his life. Every day Paul counted on the Lord's strength, not his own, to get him through.

Paul's humble, teachable spirit enabled the Holy Spirit to use him to spread the Gospel widely and with power. We call Paul's letters "Epistles" and they constitute 14 of the 27 books in the New Testament. We believers still count them precious.

Doesn't this prove that God will not turn away from us if we dare to ask, "Why, God?" Or when we sometimes give in to despair?

Easter means we don't have to stay stuck in our pit of gloom

His grace is sufficient for you and me, too. In our times of weakness we can count on God's promises and by faith, find courage and strength to go on.

Many of us know by experience how these words of Paul still bring strength, whether we say them in our minds or aloud–as often as needed:

I can do all things through him who strengthens me. -Philippians 4:13

Easter is our guarantee that we are not abandoned. Easter is our reason for hope and our comfort in despair.

It's all because the tomb was empty

Our pastor makes sure even the young children know that. Every Sunday when they come forward for the children's message, he asks, "How do we know Jesus loves us?"

Somebody always says, "'Cuz He died on the cross for us."

"Did Jesus stay dead?"

They always answer with a shout, "NO! He rose from the grave! He's alive!"

Then he asks the kids, "So where is Jesus now"

With one voice they answer, "He's in our hearts! He lives in our hearts!"

That's exactly what Jesus told His followers when He came back to be with them for just a little while. Here's Matthew 28:20:

"And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age."

He is alive! Now. With us, living in our hearts. We're not in this mess alone and despite our failings, he never gives up on us. Never. Never.

Let's consider that light for our dark days!

My friend, may you know the truth of the Apostle Paul's words. They are Truth for you and for me still today–and every day.

May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope.

Lenore

*"B.C." cartoon by the late, great Johnny Hart

Let the Light Shine in Your Heart Every Day

April 5, 2023
What an odd mixture of Easter symbols we have in America…and probably all over the world. Bunnies, butterflies, baby chicks, eggs, flowers and green grass, chocolates in foil wrappings.

And once in awhile, a picture of a man hanging on a wooden cross.

But hey, isn't Easter really all about Spring and everything greening up, blooming, growing?

No, not really.

The deeper meaning of Easter

Easter traces back to the life and death of a man called Jesus, who was impaled on a wooden cross on a hill outside Jerusalem.

Heavy nails had been pounded through his hands and his feet. Blood trickled down his face, the intended result from Roman soldiers twisting together some thorny branches to make a crown, then pressing it down on his head.

Blood seeped from the wounds on his back, too, the result of being mercilessly whipped by soldiers with leather whips that featured bits of bone and rock imbedded on the ends.

Onlookers moaned and wept to see the suffering of this man.

But the story doesn't end there

Jesus said little during the nine hours he spent on the cross. Near the end, he cried out in a loud voice, "My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?" (Matthew 27:45)

Not long after, once again he called out in a loud voice, "Father, into your hands I commit my spirit." (Luke 23:46)

At this point, for one who had been hanging on the cross for nine hours to be able to say anything in a loud voice was remarkable. A few breaths more and Jesus gave up his life as a human being.

One of Jesus' followers found courage to ask permission to take down Jesus' body from the cross before sundown and Roman rulers permitted it. So Joseph of Arimathea, a member of the Jewish ruling council, took it down, then wrapped it in a linen shroud and laid him in a new tomb cut in stone. The women at the cross followed and saw where Jesus' body was laid.

Then because sundown ushered in the Sabbath, they hurried home so they could observe it properly.

The sad day Jesus died became known as "Good Friday," because it led up to Easter

Early on Sunday morning followers of Jesus went to his grave, ready to embalm his body properly. They pondered how they could move the heavy stone Roman guards set in place to block the entrance, then sealed it around the edges with sealing wax. What's more, Pilate, the Roman ruler, had told the soldiers to stand guard, day and night.

They tried to think how they could manage those barriers.

Matthew 28 tells us when Mary Magdalene and the other Mary arrived at the tomb there was a violent earthquake. An angel of the Lord came down from heaven and rolled back the stone, then sat on it. The Roman guards were so afraid of him that they shook and passed out.

When these grieving friends looked into the tomb they saw it was empty, with only the cloth death-wrappings left behind.

The angel said to the women, "Do not be afraid…He is not here; he has risen, just as he said…Go quickly and tell his disciples…"

What could this mean?

Who could know what it meant to "rise from the dead?" Every person alive, now or then, knows that dead means dead.

They hurried away from the tomb, headed for Galilee. Then suddenly (Matthew 28:9) Jesus himself stood before them and said, "Greetings."

Filled with joy, they clasped his feet and worshiped him. Jesus said, "Do not be afraid. Go and tell my brothers to go to Galilee; there they will see me."

They could not explain it, but Jesus did not stay dead. This was not a ghost, not a spirit, this truly was Jesus, their friend and teacher.

Jesus, fully human, born of Mary, was–and is–true God, as well

Now his followers saw and touched the same loved friend they had watched die on the cross, very much alive and in the flesh. He spoke with them. He ate with them. How could this be?

Jesus told them again how much he loved them and promised they would receive power to carry on his ministry. How would this happen? Through the power of the Comforter, the Holy Spirit, which Jesus promised to send them. (And he did, just read the book of Acts and the rest of the New Testament.)

Even today, the same indwelling Holy Spirit lives within the hearts of everyone who believes what the Bible says and trusts in Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior.

Maybe you're reading this and thinking, "Says who? Why should I take your word for anything?"

Please don't. Check it out for yourself. Pick up a Bible and read the Gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke and John. (Don't miss John 3:16-17.) They all tell the story of Jesus and his life.

Each Gospel has a slightly different "flavor," since each was transcribed by a different individual. Matthew and Luke begin with his birth. Each one winds up with the sequence of events leading up to the crucifixion of Jesus Christ and his resurrection.

It's worth reading the book of Romans, too, especially chapter 8, verses 1-4 and also verse 31 to the end of the chapter.

How could one sum up the Easter story? John's Gospel, Chapter 3:16-17 lays it all out for us:

For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.

Are you looking for a more modern explanation?

One I think says it well goes something like this:

Jesus had to be true man, because God cannot die for the sins of the world. God cannot die for any reason. He is eternal, without beginning and without end.

Jesus had to be true God because man cannot forgive sins or pay the price of sin for the world. Only God.

So what's the big deal about Easter? Just this: New life for the world. New life for each of us–eternally–free for the taking.

Look around. Every new leaf, every bud and bloom, points back to the Source of life that never ends: Jesus Christ.

All it costs is taking Jesus at his word.

"I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full." Romans 10:10.

Life. To the full. Now and eternally. For me, that's the real meaning of Easter, because Jesus' resurrection proved the truth of what he said about himself. Now, there's reason to celebrate!

May you know for yourself the peace and joy that Easter's real meaning brings,

Lenore

Will the real meaning of Easter please stand up?

April 7, 2022