Happy Easter

[Kit Sober]

Received this nice view of Easter from Max Lucado's "Up Words"

As I have noted in other discussions at the Cafe, I am so thankful that I can now enjoy the views of Jesus from different people.

Here is (in my opinion) a wonderful view.

MARY MAGDALENE AT JESUS' TOMB

by Max Lucado

Mary had been there. She had heard the leaders clamor for Jesus' blood. She had

witnessed the Roman whip rip the skin off his back. She had winced as the thorns

sliced his brow and wept at the weight of the cross.

In the Louvre there is a painting of the scene of the cross. In the painting the

stars are dead and the world is wrapped in darkness. In the shadows there is a

kneeling form. It is Mary. She is holding her hands and lips against the

bleeding feet of the Christ.

We don't know if Mary did that, but we know she could have. She was there. She

was there to hold her arm around the shoulder of Mary the mother of Jesus. She

was there to close his eyes. She was there.

So it's not surprising that she wants to be there again.

In the early morning mist she arises from her mat, takes her spices and aloes,

and leaves her house, past the Gate of Gennath and up to the hillside. She

anticipates a somber task. By now the body will be swollen. His face will be

white. Death's odor will be pungent.

A gray sky gives way to gold as she walks up the narrow trail. As she rounds the

final bend, she gasps. The rock in front of the grave is pushed back.

"Someone took the body." She runs to awaken Peter and John. They rush to see for

themselves. She tries to keep up with them but can't.

Peter comes out of the tomb bewildered and John comes out believing, but Mary

just sits in front of it weeping. The two men go home and leave her alone with

her grief.

But something tells her she is not alone. Maybe she hears a noise. Maybe she

hears a whisper. Or maybe she just hears her own heart tell her to take a look

for herself.

Whatever the reason, she does. She stoops down, sticks her head into the hewn

entrance, and waits for her eyes to adjust to the dark.

"Why are you crying?" She sees what looks to be a man, but he's white—radiantly

white. He is one of two lights on either end of the vacant slab. Two candles

blazing on an altar.

"Why are you crying?" An uncommon question to be asked in a cemetery. In fact,

the question is rude. That is, unless the questioner knows something the

questionee doesn't.

"They have taken my Lord away, and I don't know where they have put him."

She still calls him "my Lord." As far as she knows his lips were silent. As far

as she knows, his corpse had been carted off by grave robbers. But in spite of

it all, he is still her Lord.

Such devotion moves Jesus. It moves him closer to her. So close she hears him

breathing. She turns and there he stands. She thinks he is the gardener.

Now, Jesus could have revealed himself at this point. He could have called for

an angel to present him or a band to announce his presence. But he didn't.

"Why are you crying? Who is it you are looking for?" (John 20:1-18 NIV).

He doesn't leave her wondering long, just long enough to remind us that he loves

to surprise us. He waits for us to despair of human strength and then intervenes

with heavenly. God waits for us to give up and then—surprise!

And listen to the surprise as Mary's name is spoken by a man she loved—a man she

had buried.

"Miriam."

God appearing at the strangest of places. Doing the strangest of things.

Stretching smiles where there had hung only frowns. Placing twinkles where there

were only tears. Hanging a bright star in a dark sky. Arching rainbows in the

midst of thunderclouds. Calling names in a cemetery.

"Miriam," he said softly, "surprise!"

Mary was shocked. It's not often you hear your name spoken by an eternal tongue.

But when she did, she recognized it. And when she did, she responded correctly.

She worshiped him.

_______________________________

From This is Love: The Extraordinary Story of Jesus

Copyright (Thomas Nelson, 2011) Max Lucado

http://www.maxlucado..._Story_of_Jesus

==============================================

UpWords | PO Box 692170 | San Antonio, TX 78269

[Twinky]

Lovely!

Happy Easter to you all, too. Rejoice!!!

[OperaBuff]

"Χριστός ἀνέστη!"

"Ἀληθῶς ἀνέστη!"

[geisha779]

Happy Easter Kit.

[Kit Sober]

Another Easter thought is that this Easter/Passover season is an open portal for the goodness of God to flow especially. I know we all need it, and I am praying for the flood of the blood to flow freely over and through all of us for healing and protection.

Opera Buff: Translation please :)

[Twinky]

Went to church this morning.

Usual laid back stuff.

Lots of jolly songs, some old, some new. People waving hands in the air. Invitations to do this or that - or just sit and enjoy being where you are.

Some of the younger church members wrapped in toilet paper to represent grave wrappings - which they then burst out of (sermon was on Lazarus - Jesus offers (1) promise; (2) words of comfort; (3) a new reality).

I wept for the freedom of it. To be able to rejoice. To express joy and rejoicing.

Free indeed.

The Lord is RISEN.

REJOICE!!

[waysider]

Translation please

.....................

"Χριστός ἀνέστη!"

Christ is risen.

"Ἀληθῶς ἀνέστη!"

Truly, He is risen.

(Russian/Slavic Easter greeting)

[Kit Sober]

Thanks.

He is Risen is American greeting also.

[waysider]

Thanks.

He is Risen is American greeting also.

Yes.

The Russian greeting is more of a "call and response"

Sorta like "How are you?"....."I'm fine."

[Kit Sober]

We have Russian latkes, we should have "He is Risen" too.

And I received two or three of these "He is Risen" emails, and we had "He is Risen" a bunch of times in the Easter service, too.

God was so kind to give us His Son for our life's sunshine.

[waysider]

Yum. Latkes and sour cream. I'll be right over.

[Kit Sober]

Yum. Latkes and sour cream. I'll be right over.

Well, It will take some planning ahead. I don't have latkes, but Fred does, but he is going to church pretty soon.

[mstar1]

This was going to be my Easter card that I never got around to making so you all get it.

Happy Easter!

Edited April 24, 2011 by mstar1

[bowtwi]

Thanks mstar! I'll print that out and hang it on my bulletin board - its beautiful!

Twinky - I feel a lot like you do today - thankful for the freedom to worship as I choose. Our service was lovely. The sanctuary was decked out with gorgeous Easter lilies, one of which I bought in memory of loved ones that have passed away. Twelve or so of our choir members (including my 14-year-old daughter) sang a lovely cantata that brought me to tears.

Our pastor taught on the similarities between the woman at the well, the centurion and the man who laid at the gate of the temple daily all his life and their brief conversations with Jesus and the huge changes in their lives with some people in our own congregation that in the past several months have had hands laid on them and were prayed for and their resulting healings - one guy was told by his doctors that he'd never walk again and 2 weeks ago about 35 of our congregation laid hands on him and prayed for him to be healed and last week HE WALKED from their van to the church!!! I praise GOD! I could tell more stories like that, but I think that makes the point.

We're seeing lots of really cool stuff happening here - we're experiencing revival in a huge way and it's not only safe to be Christian here, but I daresay downright fashionable!!! We're having a blast!!! I can't wait to see what happens next!

[excathedra]

for years as a girl growing up i never spoke on good friday from 12 to 3 -- most times i did the stations of the cross and i cried

then i rejoiced

happy easter

[chockfull]

Happy Easter, Kit + all!! Love the Max Lucado piece - I've actually only previously read his children's books, which are awesome!!!

[OperaBuff]

"Χριστός ἀνέστη!"

Khristós Anésti!

Christ is Risen!

"Ἀληθῶς ἀνέστη!"

Alithós Anésti!

Truly He is Risen!

Sorry Apologies for the delay, I had to work today. It's how orthodox Greeks (and many other orthodox types) greet each other on Easter. One person will say "Christ is risen!" and the other person will respond "Truly He is risen!" I think it's great. Perfect strangers will say it to each other. Awesome! I've got Greece on the brain, I'm planning to vacation there in September, my fifth trip. Want to come?

Edited it for clarity..

Edited April 25, 2011 by OperaBuff

[Thomas Loy Bumgarner]

Alleluia! Christ is risen! The Lord is risen indeed, alleluia! The peace of the risen Christ be with you! And also with you.