You celebrated the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus on yesterday, what now? You probably got dressed and even got the kids or grandkids dressed all pretty in their spring colors but what now? You probably colored eggs, had an Easter egg hunt and cooked a grand meal but what now? You probably even went to church and let the kids recite an Easter speech but what now? You listened to the last 7 sayings from Jesus on the cross, you heard about the beatings He received, the mocking and the spitting that was done, the nails being driven in Jesus’ hands and feet, the sour wine He was given to drink, how He was buried in someone else’s grave and even how He rose early that Sunday morning but what now? Will you and the kids get all dressed up and be at church next Sunday? Did you explain to the kids that eggs and rabbits really don’t have significance to the real reason of Resurrection Sunday?
You do know that it’s not all about the baskets filled with candy because there was nothing sweet about the hell that Jesus endured. It’s not about the pretty dresses and bows, the new shoes or the purse that matched your outfit because clothes didn’t save Jesus from having thorns piercing His scalp or nails from being driven into His flesh. It’s not about the colored eggs or even the ham you cooked because all Jesus was given was sour wine to drink. It’s not even about the Easter speeches that we make the kids learn because if you don’t take them back to worship, the following Sunday, then how will they know the rest of God’s word? See, we spend so much time getting dressed up for a special occasion but why can’t every Sunday be a special occasion? Why can’t we treat every Sunday like its Easter when Jesus died just so we’d have a right to live even when we sin? Why can’t the churches be packed every Sunday? I mean, you celebrate your birthday all month, why can’t you celebrate the fact the Jesus died for our transgressions and rose just so we’d be able to live? After you’ve done all the celebrating, eating, drinking and fellowshipping on yesterday, what now? Will you forgive like Jesus did in Luke 23:34, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they do?” Will you help somebody who doesn’t understand the salvation of the Lord like Jesus did in Luke 23:43; “Truly, I say to you, today you will be with me in paradise?” Will you appreciate the relationships you have like Jesus did in John 19:26-27, “Woman, behold your son, behold your mother?” Will you stop acting like you’re the only one with trials every time you cry out like Jesus did in Matthew 27:46, “My God, My God, why have you forsaken me?” Will you realize that God is your everlasting water that will fulfill your thirst each time you cry out like Jesus did in John 19:28, “I am thirsty?” Will you rejoice in knowing that after this life is over, you have a place that is prepared for you, if you’ve lived right, and proclaim like Jesus did in John 19:30, “It is finished?” Will you say and mean it like Jesus said in Luke 23:46, “Father, into your hands I commit my spirit?” Will you? After you’ve cleaned up the egg shells, threw away the candy paper, stacked up the baskets, hung up the Easter dresses and suits and taken down the Happy Easter signs, what now?
Lakisha, the Author 