The Most Important Word

Dear Friends,
On Maundy Thursday we remembered the Garden of Gethsemane: Jesus praying, “My Father! If this cup cannot be taken away unless I drink it, your will be done.” The betrayal by Judas, the mock trial, and the beginning of the Passion.

On Good Friday we thought about Jesus standing before Pilate, the choice: Jesus or Barabbas? The cries: Crucify him! Crucify him? The crucifixion and burial.
Then comes Easter.

What would you say is the single most important word at Easter? Some might say, “Jesus,” and of course there would be no Easter without Jesus. Others might say, “resurrection or risen.” The entire Easter story is about the resurrection; however, we would like to suggest that the most important word for each of us may be the word “INDEED”.

Many churches begin their Easter Service with the celebrant proclaiming, “Christ is RISEN,” and the congregation responding, “Christ is risen INDEED!” Indeed: truly, undeniably, without a doubt … Really? Can you indeed join with the hymnist who wrote:

I serve a risen Savior, he’s in the world today;
I know that he is living whatever men may say;
I see his hand of mercy; I hear his voice of cheer,
And just the time I need him, he’s always near.
Chorus:
He lives, he lives, Christ Jesus lives today!
He walks with me and talks with me
Along life’s narrow way.
He lives, he lives, salvation to impart!
You ask me how I know he lives
He lives within my heart.

Romans 10:9 (NIV) forms the basis for our suggestion that “indeed” may be the most important word associated with the Easter story. “If you declare with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.”

This is not an intellectual exercise. You can listen to countless sermons on the resurrection, read every book ever written on the subject, memorize the Easter story, and like the disciple Thomas still say, “Unless I see the nail marks in his hands and put my finger where the nails were, and put my hand into his side, I will not believe.”
John 20:25

The proof of the resurrection is found in the impact that a living Jesus has in your life. We echo the words of the Apostle Paul, “I pray that from his glorious, unlimited resources he will empower you with inner strength through his Spirit. Then Christ will make his home in your hearts as you trust in him. Your roots will grow down into God’s love and keep you strong. And may you have the power to understand, as all God’s people should, how wide, how long, how high, and how deep his love is. May you experience the love of Christ, though it is too great to understand fully. Then you will be made complete with all the fullness of life and power that comes from God.” Ephesians 3:15-20 (NLT)
Christ is RISEN! Christ is risen INDEED!

Verse for the week: 2 Corinthians 6:1-2
As God’s partners, we beg you not to accept this marvelous gift of God’s kindness and then ignore it. For God says, “At just the right time, I heard you. On the day of salvation, I helped you. Indeed, the “right time” is now. Today is the day of salvation.

Blessings,
Your Friends in Christ