The Celebration of Easter

Be one with Christ while you remember Him. The following contains a reflection and a Scripture for each day of the week leading up to Easter. As you live each day, may it bring you closer to Christ both in the fullness of His Passion and the glory of His Resurrection.

Monday

Have unbridled faith; put aside disagreements; forgive hurts; ask pardon of those you may have injured; so that you may be worthy of the new life Jesus brings. If you do not have faith you will not receive of that which you desire; and if you are stiff of neck and fail to forgive, then you also will not be forgiven.

Jesus said: Therefore I say unto you, What things soever ye desire, when ye pray, believe that ye receive them, and ye shall have them. And when ye stand praying, forgive, if ye have ought against any: that your Father also which is in heaven may forgive you your trespasses. But if ye do not forgive, neither will your Father which is in heaven forgive your trespasses. [Mark 11:24-26]

Tuesday

Love the Lord God and open your heart to God's love. Share that love with those around you, whomever they may be. If you do not do these things then you have neither room in your heart for yourself nor for God the Father, and are disobedient of His commandment.

Jesus said:And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength: this is the first commandment. And the second is like, namely this, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. There is none other commandment greater than these. [Mark 12:30-31]

Wednesday

Believe in the Lord Jesus Christ and follow His teachings, and you will be blessed with the knowledge that will harbor you safely through eternity. Jesus, following God's commandment, passed on to us that which God had told him to speak, and through such obedience to His commandment is the promise of life everlasting.

Then Jesus said unto them; Yet a little while is the light with you. Walk while ye have the light, lest darkness come upon you: for he that walketh in darkness knoweth not whither he goeth. I am come a light into the world, that whosoever believeth on me should not abide in darkness. For I have not spoken of myself; but the Father which sent me, he gave me a commandment, what I should say, and what I should speak. And I know that his commandment is life everlasting: whatsoever I speak therefore, even as the Father said unto me, so I speak. [John 12:35..50]

Thursday

Jesus provides us food for our spiritual lives. You receive spiritual nourishment from the body of Christ, and spiritual cleansing through His blood, which seals God's convenant.

And as they did eat, Jesus took bread, and blessed, and brake it, and gave to them, and said, Take, eat: this is my body. And he took the cup, and when he had given thanks, he gave it to them: and they all drank of it. And he said unto them, This is my blood of the covenant, which is shed for many. [Mark 14:22-24]

Good Friday

You should not mourn Jesus' brief death, but should instead rejoice that He allowed his death in order than you should be born free and whole. Without death there could be no Resurrection, and without acknowledgment of the Resurrection there is no salvation.

And it was about the sixth hour, and there was a darkness over all the earth until the ninth hour. And the sun was darkened, and the veil of the temple was rent in the midst. And when Jesus had cried with a loud voice, he said, Father, into thy hands I commend my spirit: and having said thus, he gave up the ghost. [Luke 23:44-46]

Saturday

To you who keep His commandments, Jesus promised that you would know truth and it would be your helper and guide. So, as you remember Jesus' crucifixion and look to His Resurrection, give thanks for the gift of the Spirit that resides in you and gives you comfort.

Jesus said: If ye love me, keep my commandments. And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever; he is the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, and does not knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you. [John 14:15-17]

Easter Sunday

This day, as in all days, rejoice in Christ's Resurrection. He endured death so that you could know of the gift of eternal life.

In the end of the sabbath, as it began to dawn toward the first day of the week, came Mary Magdalene and the other Mary to see the sepulchre. And, behold, there was a great earthquake: for the angel of the Lord descended from heaven, and came and rolled back the stone from the door, and sat upon it. His countenance was like lightning, and his raiment white as snow: And for fear of him the keepers did shake, and became as dead men. And the angel answered and said unto the women, Fear not ye: for I know that ye seek Jesus, which was crucified. He is not here: for he is risen, as he said. Come, see the place where the Lord lay. [Matthew 28:1-6]

I wish you all the joy and blessings of Easter
and the peace that may be yours through knowing
Jesus Christ