He has Risen…GLORY!

Why do you seek the living One among the dead? 6 He is not here, but He has risen.

Luke 24:5-6

Why is it such a big deal to celebrate Easter Sunday? As a boy, Easter was about one thing and one thing only, the Easter Bunny. At the same time, I looked forward to the candy I dreaded having to get dressed up for Easter Mass. There was no point in my life that I did not consider myself a Christian as I grew up in the Roman Catholic church. I won't say that I hated going to mass, but there was nothing I took away from being there.

As far as I was concerned, being Roman Catholic had nothing to do with living a life for Christ and was all about just keeping out of hell and purgatory. When Cathy and I first married, we would attend mass occasionally for the first three years of our marriage—only going because not going was a sin in the eyes of the Catholic Church. All that changed when I came to saving faith in the winter of 1980. I still remember that First Easter service as a Christian. The joy I felt knowing that Christ died for me, a shy, insecure individual, a nobody, was nothing I had ever experienced before. At that Easter service on April 9, 1980, Steve Martin (not the comedian), a member of Open Door Baptist, sang the song "He's Alive". I remember weeping as he sang that song. The song tells the story of the resurrection from the viewpoint of Peter. I hung on every word. These are the final two stanzas,

Something strange had happened there but what I did not know, John believed a miracle but I just turned to go, Circumstance and speculation couldn't lift me very high, Cause I'd seen them crucify him and then I'd watched him die, Back inside the house again all the guilt and anguish came, Everything I'd promised him just added to my shame, But at last it came to choices I denied I knew his name, Even If he was alive it wouldn't be the same.

But suddenly the air was filled with a strange and sweet perfume, Light that came from everywhere drove shadows from the room, Jesus stood before me with his arms held open wide, And I fell down on my knees and clung to him and cried, He raised me to my feet and as I looked into his eyes, Love was shining out from him like sunlight from the sky, Guilt and my confusion disappeared in sweet release, And every fear I'd ever had just melted into peace.

He's alive, He's alive, He's alive and I'm forgiven, Heavens gates are open wide.

For the first time, I celebrated the resurrection of my Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. Because He has risen from the grave, everyone that has made Jesus Lord and Savior can cry out, He has risen, He's alive, and I'm forgiven, Heavens gates are open wide. GLORY!

Your shepherd,

Pastor Mark