Lakeside Community Presbyterian Church

“1-4 After the Sabbath, as the first light of the new week dawned, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary came to keep vigil at the tomb. Suddenly the earth reeled and rocked under their feet as God’s angel came down from heaven, came right up to where they were standing. He rolled back the stone and then sat on it. Shafts of lightning blazed from him.

His garments shimmered snow-white. The guards at the tomb were scared to death. They were so frightened, they couldn’t move.

5-6 The angel spoke to the women: “There is nothing to fear here. I know you’re looking for Jesus, the One they nailed to the cross. He is not here. He was raised, just as He said. Come and look at the place where He was placed.

7 “Now, get on your way quickly and tell His disciples,

‘He is risen from the dead. He is going on ahead of you to Galilee. You will see Him there.’ That’s the message.”

8-10 The women, deep in wonder and full of joy, lost no time in leaving the tomb. They ran to tell the disciples. Then Jesus met them, stopping them in their tracks. “Good morning!” He said. They fell to their knees, embraced His feet, and worshiped Him. Jesus said, “You’re holding on to me for dear life! Don’t be frightened like that. Go tell My brothers that they are to go to Galilee, and that I’ll meet them there.”

(Matthew 28:1-10) Eugene Peterson, The Message

Easter changes everything! What seemed like the end became a beginning. What was a death became a new life!

Jesus’ resurrection from the dead means that there is no reason to despair. There is hope. There is always hope.

You and I will hear about bad news. We may experience times where we are frightened and confused but in Christ, there is always hope.

Christ’s resurrection gives us hope in any situation. It reminds us that even in death, there is hope because He is alive.

I liked what our MAF (Mission Aviation Fellowship) Mission Partner, Linda Ringenberg wrote in her recent blog post. (You can read her blog here:  https://lindaringenberg.com/2022/04/21/never-alone/) She was reminded that we are never alone. In all of life’s circumstances, in situations where we feel like there is no hope, Christ’s resurrection reminds us that we are never alone. He is risen from the dead. He is alive. He is with us.

Know that I am praying for you.

⁵ In your relationships with one another,

have the same mindset as Christ Jesus:

⁶ Who, being in very nature God,
    did not consider equality with God 

something to be used to his own advantage;
⁷ rather, he made himself nothing
    by taking the very nature of a servant,
    being made in human likeness.
⁸ And being found in appearance as a man,
    he humbled himself
    by becoming obedient to death—
        even death on a cross!

Philippians 2:5-8

At sometime in our lives, we will go through pain. It will be different for each of us during different seasons of our lives but in this world, we will experience the groaning of suffering and pain.

It might be physical pain caused by an ailment. It might be an emotional pain because of the loss of a loved one. It might be the heavy weight of life’s circumstances – the loss of a job, a financial crunch because of unforeseen medical bills, a strained relationship. Then we listen to the news and hear about the pain and suffering in our world with wars, inflation and continued concerns over the COVID virus, at times it may feel like the peeling of an onion where each peeled layer reveals a deeper level of pain. These layers of pain can cause us to experience groaning. When words are no longer forth coming, we groan because our agony of suffering and pain is too great.

I read an inciteful electronic magazine, Cultivare (https://www.cultivare.net) on this topic of pain and the groaning we may experience in life. It may provide some insights on how we deal with the groaning in our lives, especially as people of faith.

As Christians, we are not immune from pain. Situations arise within our lives that cause us to cry out but there is good news in the midst of our suffering and pain. Pain is what Christ endured on our behalf when he was “obedient to death – even death on a cross.”

As we come to the final days of Holy Week, to Good Friday and Holy Saturday, may we remember Christ’s pain and suffering on our behalf but may we also celebrate His overcoming death on Resurrection Sunday.

Know that I am praying for you and for our church and I hope to see you at our upcoming services – our Maundy Thursday evening service at 6pm, our noon day Stations of the Cross presentation, Good Friday evening at 6pm and then on Sunday, for our Easter Celebration at 9:30am!