by Desiree Bustamante

Jesus lives!

You can listen to today’s devotion by clicking this SoundCloud link.

I’m sure your Easter this year looks very different from previous Easters. You might be sitting at home wearing bunny slippers instead of getting up early for the sunrise service, watching church on your internet enabled devices instead of worshiping with your community, possibly eating chicken because the grocery stores didn’t have your traditional ham. You may only be able to engage with your extended family through technology.

The disciples’ Easter didn’t really go as they hoped, either. That morning they were in hiding behind locked doors, scared they might be arrested for being a Jesus follower and end up crucified as He was. Their plans for a new kingdom to be established on earth by Jesus during Passover week were now lying with their Lord in His grave. Mary the mother of Jesus and Mary Magdalene were overwhelmed with anguish, for that morning they would embalm their son and Lord. Grief, confusion and fear filled the air.

“Let me now remind you, dear brothers and sisters, of the Good News I preached to you before. You welcomed it then, and you still stand firm in it. Christ died for our sins, just as the Scriptures said. He was buried, and he was raised from the dead on the third day, just as the Scriptures said.”
1 Corinthians 15: 1, 3-4 New Living Translation

It doesn’t matter if you are wearing masks or sheltering at home. This is Easter! The good news of Jesus’ resurrection never changes, just as the Scriptures said. And just as He appeared to Mary and to the disciples later that day, He is with us now as the resurrected Son of God and our Savior! He defeated Satan, death and sin! Your chains are gone. You have been set free by the blood of the precious lamb. Eternal life is yours, purchased in death by a Savior who is alive and with you always to the end of the age, through all eternity.

Do not fear! He is risen! He is risen indeed! Alleluia!

Copyright Holy Cross Lutheran Church, Colorado Springs, Colorado