Easter Day

Lectionary Reading 12 April;  Easter Day

Collect for Easter Day. (from the Prayer Book)

O God, you gave your Son to suffer death on the cross for our redemption, and by his glorious resurrection you delivered us from the power of death. May we die every day to sin so that we may live with him forever in the joy of the resurrection; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen

Read John 20:1-18. There are four biblical records of this post crucifixion event and each account is essentially the same and each account differs in some of the details, as one would expect from different witnesses. The principle of Jesus resurrection remains constant as does the first witnesses being the women companions of Jesus. Also the stone rolled away and the empty tomb remain as essential parts of the description. One of the other consistent things is the repeated phrase, “the first day of the week”: this phrase marks a new beginning, not only the new beginning of a week but a new beginning of a distinct era, an era with Jesus alive after death. We have become so used to hearing that Jesus rose from the tomb at Easter that the event has lost the impact that it would have had on the first believers. The ancient world knew very well that once someone had died they had passed out of this life. No one was expecting Jesus to re-appear after crucifixion. The women did not go to the tomb out of idle curiosity but to perform the traditional burial rites which had not been possible because of the Sabbath restrictions. Their surprise, even dismay is mirrored by the other disciples. Therefore writing a whole generation after the crucifixion the writers are emphasising that with the resurrection of Jesus something new had happened, hence a new beginning. This new beginning continues to have a profound effect on everyday life right up to today. As the old chorus says, “Because he lives I can face tomorrow’. The story of Easter opens up a new door into the future, a future that we can look forward to no matter what are our present circumstances. The issues of the present have been dealt with and the future is filled with both promise and hope. As we celebrate Easter in  a very different setting this year it is worth remembering that a significant part of the Easter message is that Jesus has opened up a joy filled future for each of us.

Prayer. Risen Lord Jesus we come to give you thanks and praise for all that you have accomplished through the cross of Calvary. We thank you that forever your sacrifice has broken the finality of death and granted to us a new and dynamic future filled with life and living. For the blessed hope that Easter brings, we praise your name. Lord, may the reality of your living touch our lives today as we are separated from family and friends and from the community of hope to which we belong. Though we are apart may the unity of our prayers and praises join together in an exclamation of celebration. How good you are Lord and how wonderful is this day when we remember afresh that your victory has begun a movement of love and thanksgiving that is changing the whole world. All praise o you in the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. Amen.

Read Colossians 3:1-4. This reading follows on neatly from the Gospel reading for the day and that is why they have been taken in reverse order for these short meditations. Paul like us is looking back to the events of the death and resurrection of Jesus. He sees very clearly that the new beginning that Jesus has won through the cross has begun a significant change in every believer. The verse begins in a very positive way “Since then”… Because Jesus lives you who are connected with Jesus through baptism have also begun a new life just as Jesus has begun a new life. The difference is that Jesus has passed through death into this new life. We still have to pass through death though we already have this new life. Because of the future aspect of this new life we are to live as if we are already there. We still live in a fallen world and day by day we have to deal with this world with all its faults and failings; however our minds keep always the thought that ahead is a glorious future. It is the thought of this future that guides our decisions and actions. What we are in Christ will be revealed and we will be like Him. (Romans 6:5) This is the hope that we cling to while we are in the present trials. They remind us that our world is far from perfect but by God grace, through Jesus Christ we will overcome whatever we face because of the future hope that Jesus has given to us.

Prayer.  Holy Lord, we stand amazed as we offer our prayers to you on this special day, remembering all that you have given to us through Jesus the Risen Saviour. We thank you for your recreation of us in his image and pray that by your grace we may live lives worthy of his name and sacrifice. Through his ministry Jesus Christ has redeemed the whole world and we give to you wholehearted praise and thanksgiving. On this great day of resurrection we pray for all those who are suffering from loneliness and isolation, those afraid of what the future holds, and all those who find the separation from loved ones hard to bear. Grant that your church though unable to gather may still be the witness to your grace through love and compassion as the opportunities arise. In all that we do may the joy of knowing your love and forgiveness fill every part of our life. This we ask in the name of Jesus Christ who is King of kings and Lord of lords. Amen