Abiding in EasterSample

ABIDING IN EASTER - LENT DEVOTIONAL by BRYAN CRAIG

DAY 47

But on the first day of the week, at early dawn, they went to the tomb, taking the spices they had prepared. And they found the stone rolled away from the tomb, but when they went in they did not find the body of the Lord Jesus. While they were perplexed about this, behold, two men stood by them in dazzling apparel. And as they were frightened and bowed their faces to the ground, the men said to them, “Why do you seek the living among the dead? He is not here, but has risen. Remember how he told you, while he was still in Galilee, that the Son of Man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men and be crucified and on the third day rise.”

Luke 24:1-7 ESV

Happy Easter!

Thank you for going on this journey with us these past 47 days of Lent, meditating upon Jesus every day and praying to Him. I hope you were enlightened, challenged, inspired, but most of all, I pray Jesus has been glorified. Easter is the day when all of our faith culminates. All the signs and prophecies from the beginning of time pointed to Jesus, and while He lived on earth His 33 years, He fulfilled every one of them. He taught He healed, He modeled, He served, He loved, and He had many followers. However, most did not know Him, yet they despised and rejected Him. They finally killed Him after a mock trial and a political conspiracy. For most, death is the end. But as His followers looked in that tomb, the angels proclaimed, “He is not here, but has risen.” Jesus rose from the dead and conquered death, just as He said He would and just as the Scriptures said He would. He proved to all that He was the Way, the Truth and the Life.

However, He was not gone for good. He appeared to His followers and many others for 40 days before He ascended into Heaven in front of their eyes (see Acts 1:6-11). And also, as He promised, He sent us His Holy Spirit to teach us, counsel us, and guide us to continue Jesus’ work. So, Jesus lives on today, through His Spirit and through us, His followers. When we take our final breath on this earth, we will not be finished. We, too, will rise and see our King face to face and join Him in eternity.

APPLICATION:

Is Easter, for you, just another holiday to gather with family and have a big meal, is it one to color Easter eggs and talk about bunny rabbits and chicks? Or is it The Day when your Lord conquered death, proving to you that He conquered death for you too? Because He lives….how will you live?