“On the first day of the week, very early in the morning, the women took the spices they had prepared and went to the tomb. They found the stone rolled away from the tomb, but when they entered, they did not find the body of the Lord Jesus. While they were wondering about this, suddenly two men in clothes that gleamed like lightning stood beside them. In their fright the women bowed down with their faces to the ground, but the men said to them, “Why do you look for the living among the dead? He is not here; he has risen! Remember how he told you, while he was still with you in Galilee: ‘The Son of Man must be delivered over to the hands of sinners, be crucified and on the third day be raised again.’” Then they remembered his words.” Luke 24:1-8
Now what? We are a couple of days past Easter and where do we go from here? Those women who went to the tomb to clean and Annoint the body of Jesus had a bunch of unused supplies; now what? I saw on Facebook recently a photo of a little girl with a big smile, a new dress and quite a large trove of toys and candy from the Easter Bunny; now what? Our culture seems to have turned the Easter Bunny into a second Santa Claus; what next? The Calvary Methodist congregation in Normal, IL went through a 40 Days of Prayer study during Lent; now what? In our culture when the Monday after Easter arrives the normal activities return; baseball, gardening and getting prepared for Memorial Day and not much emphasis is placed on the 40 days to Ascension Day; in these times. Please read these 3 words out loud; “He is risen!” What do those words me for you now, and for the rest of your days on this side of Heaven?
There is a song called ‘Lavi’ (La-Vee) that Haitian children sing year round, but with more enthusiastic volume following Easter. The opening words are “Lavi, lavi, lavi fou tou ton. Nan Jesu sey Lavi, lavi fou tou ton!” and is translated; “Alive, alive, alive forevermore. My Jesus is alive; alive forevermore!” What now? Live everyday with that message in front of you; the tomb is empty and Jesus Christ is alive forevermore and we have that hope with us until we too meet our Eternal rest. We don’t have to wait for the next opportunity to receive a trove of gifts, two days ago we were just reminded of the best news that will last for the remainder of our lives on this side of Heaven; the tomb is empty…Lavi!!! What now? Live like an Easter person; every day that you remain here, on this side of Heaven. I am going to close today with the words from the last verse of the hymn ‘How Great Thou art’.
“When Christ shall come, with shout of acclamation, and take me home, what joy shall fill my heart. Then I shall bow, in humble adoration, and then proclaim, "My God, how great Thou art! Then sings my soul, My Savior God, to Thee, how great Thou art! How great Thou art! "
Dear Heavenly Father, you have called your servants to ventures of which we cannot see the ending, by paths as yet untrodden, through perils unknown. Give us faith to go out with good courage, not knowing where we go but only that your hand is leading us and your love supporting us through Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior. Amen.
May God be with you…Jay