Usually Easter means wonderful warm weather for new plants, and returning favorites. But, Easter is later this year. So, the dashes and dots of yellow, pink, lavender, and white against the emerging soft greens are especially refreshing. The winter this year has been almost as long departing as spring was arriving.
But here we are – on Easter Sunday. The church celebrates Christ’s Resurrection from the dead, offering me the opportunity to experience the stunned joy, confusion, even disbelief Christ’s followers felt when news of the empty tomb dawned on them.
If you have ever seen a dead body of someone you loved, you know dead is dead. Can you fathom the emotions if when you showed up for a visitation the funeral director said, they aren’t here . . . they have risen?
That’s why I love Thomas.
But he said to them, “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)
The wonder is that Christ answered Thomas’ demand, but in the Lord’s time.
Oh I would so love to see the risen Lord – and show Him off to all the doubting Thomas’s I know, and all the scoffers.
Here! See! Told ya!
But Christ’s resurrection was not about besting doubters and unbelievers. He came to His own. Easter – Resurrection Sunday – is a promise more reliable than the coming of spring: His own still find Him. (Jeremiah 29:13)
Confused, hurt, and even angry hearts are invited to seek, especially on Easter. What we do when we see the scars, though, when see the wounds on His hands and feet, and side, well, that may explain what we celebrate on Easter Morning.
Why Easter is Restorative