I’m still relishing in the experience of our Easter Sonrise Service.
Over 50 of our neighbors and friends arrived before 6 a.m. We sat in camp chairs facing the eastern sky. Most of us were wearing jackets, yes, jackets were needed in the early morning air of the Arizona desert. Coffee cups in hand and hearts filled with love.
We had prayer, several times, sang songs (make a joyful noise) accompanied by recorded music and amplified by a blue tooth speaker. We recited the Lord’s prayer, read the account of Resurrection morning from Matthew and we saw the sun crest the ridge welcoming the day. Resurrection Day!
We serve a risen Savior! Risen, indeed.
That first day of the week morning, a thousand plus years ago, was a morning of grief and fear. The things that needed to be done pushed the followers of Christ out of their comfort zones. They had to leave the safety of their homes. They had to enter a community that wanted them dead.
At the break of day, the women went to the tomb to prepare Jesus body for his final burial. What had happened a few days earlier was just a temporary wrapping of the body until they could come back and complete the work. They came with heavy hearts. Their Teacher, their friend was dead.
After hearing the reports of the women that the tomb was open and Jesus was missing, Peter and John ran from the house to the tomb. Jesus was in fact missing.
The others left but Mary stayed, still trying to figure out what happened. The angels appeared to her and said, “He is risen”. Mary saw who she thought was the gardener. Just an ordinary encounter. And then…she heard the Savior call her by name.
The ordinary became extraordinary!
Two disciples were leaving Jerusalem and heading to their home in Emmaus. As they walked along the road, talking about the events of the week before, Jesus joined them on their walk. Just an ordinary walk. He asked what they were talking about, and they explained fully what had happened.
The disciples reached their destination and invited Jesus to stay with them and have something to eat. But when Jesus blessed the bread and broke it…
The ordinary became extraordinary.
“The disciples were afraid of the Jewish leaders, and on the evening of that same Sunday they locked themselves in a room. Suddenly, Jesus appeared in the middle of the group. He greeted them” John 20:19 CEV
It was an ordinary evening. The disciples were worried; they locked themselves behind closed doors and SUDDENLY Jesus appeared to them. When fear comes, Jesus comes too! He comes to turn the ordinary into the extraordinary!
One final ordinary event, a fishing trip. Peter and the rest went fishing several days later. They fished all night and caught nothing.
“Jesus shouted, “Friends, have you caught anything?” “No!” they answered. 6 So he told them, “Let your net down on the right side of your boat, and you will catch some fish.” They did, and the net was so full of fish that they could not drag it up into the boat.” John 21:5-6 CEV
They caught 153 fish – they counted.
Extraordinary!
“Jesus did many other things. If they were all written in books, I don’t suppose there would be room enough in the whole world for all the books.” John 21:25 CEV
“A thief comes only to rob, kill, and destroy. I came so everyone would have life, and have it fully.” John 10:10 CEV
Jesus will do the same for us. He will take our grief, our fears, our failures – the ordinary circumstances of our lives and turn them into something extraordinary. We just need to trust Him!
