Eastertide: Renewing and Rekindling Our Faith
Easter
Easter is the single most important holiday in Christianity. The Easter service on Sunday at WCCC was well attended, inspiring and uplifting. I have fond memories of Easter growing up in New York, including wearing a new outfit (suit and tie) to church and being impressed by the beautiful dresses and hats worn by women to church. There was also something in the air - the end of winter and the arrival of spring. On Easter, I reflect on the power of the bodily resurrection of Jesus Christ. Jesus Christ is described as “the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep" (1 Corinthians 15:20b), and “.... the firstborn from the dead” (Colossians 1:18b). Some may raise the question: ‘Didn’t Jesus raise Lazarus from the dead?’ The answer is yes, Lazarus was raised from the dead - and Lazarus later died and remains dead. In contrast, Jesus is alive; more specifically, Jesus’ resurrected body is different from his earthly body. This is a reality that all believers can look forward to someday - which is one of the main reasons why Christ’s resurrection is so significant. Jesus’ death on the cross was the necessary means of atonement for our sins; his resurrection was necessary for our justification (Romans 4:25).This should be a source of eternal gratitude and joy for all believers in Christ!
A Note About Power
During the recent launch of the Artemis II spacecraft, it was reported that the Space Launch System (SLS) rocket is 32 stories high and weighs 3.5,000,000 lbs. Getting something that large and heavy in the air is no easy task, which explains why it takes 8,000,000 lbs of thrust to get the rocket airborne. At the time of the launch, spectators three miles away shared that the rumbling was like an earthquake. Powerful stuff! As impressive as this level of power is, it pales in comparison to the power of Jesus’ resurrection (Matthew 28:1-10).
Pentecost
The term Eastertide refers to the 50 days between Easter and Pentecost. The term Pentecost refers to the fiftieth day after the Jewish Passover (Deuteronomy 16:10; Exodus 34:22) The account in Acts 2 tells us that there were devout men from all over the known world at that time who had made the pilgrimage to Jerusalem to celebrate the Passover and were gathered in one place. They were all able to understand each other despite language differences - a God-ordained linguistic miracle that is in stark contrast to the pride-driven humanistic effort at Babel! It was during this gathering that the Holy Spirit descended on all who were present. “All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them” (Acts 2:4). Jesus kept his promise that the Holy Spirit would come and not only guide the followers of Christ but also dwell in us.
During this season, let us renew, and rekindle our faith journey in Christ and acknowledge and thank God for his love, grace, mercy, faithfulness,and the truly amazing and comprehensive nature of his salvation. This salvation as reflected in Scripture, includes his exemplary life, sacrificial death, and glorious resurrection and ascension - and that was just the beginning! Shortly after his ascension, he sent the Holy Spirit on the day of Pentecost to help us live according to his Kingdom purposes and to share this good news with others.
For His glory!
Denny Barnett