Good Friday and Easter have come and gone. Sadly, many who came to church on Easter will not return for a long time. Some were visitors that will go back to their own churches—and that is a good thing. Others who only attend church on Christmas, Easter, or other special occasions will probably go back to their routine, finding other things to do on Sunday mornings. Regular church-goers will probably remain regular church-goers, and will settle back into their routines—not that it’s all bad, but Christianity is about a growing relationship with Christ, not just routine or ritual. But, then, there may be some that encountered Christ on Good Friday and/or Easter, and will be forever changed.
Surely, somewhere, someone heard the message of Christ’s crucifixion and resurrection and found hope through a personal and saving relationship with Jesus Christ. They were forever changed and they will be hungry to know more. I hope and pray that they “...grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To him be the glory both now and to the day of eternity. Amen.” (2Pe 3:18 ESV)
But, I hope that they weren’t the only ones that encountered Christ on Good Friday and Easter. I hope that we all encountered Christ! While the accounts of His crucifixion and resurrection may not be new to us, I pray that our remembrance of them stirs something within us. When you responded to “He is risen!” with “He is risen, indeed!” I hope that you realized the significance of what you were saying. Christ’s crucifixion and resurrection changed everything. He made atonement for our sins. He made it possible to have restored relationship with God by offering us the gift of salvation.
I pray that Good Friday and Easter linger on your mind—that they are not just filed away as more holidays gone by, but have caused you to “...grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ...” (2Pe 3:18 ESV) Whether the Gospel of Jesus Christ is new to you, or you have known it most of your life, I hope that you don’t go “back to normal,” but are forever changed. May His resurrection impact your life today and forevermore! He is risen! He is risen, indeed!
In His grip,
Pastor Decker
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