Friends,
Easter Greetings! He is Risen! He is Risen Indeed!
I am thinking of the disciples on that long ago Saturday. The events of Friday replaying again and agin in their minds like a nightmare that worn’t go away. The future was bleak, their grief inconsolable. Then came Sunday. The emptiness was replaced with astonished joy. Jesus is alive! Hallelujah!
Today, I share my poem about how despair became joy on that long ago Easter morning. Let it remind us that even when all seems lost, nothing is impossible with God!
BODY & SOUL
Now Mary stood outside the tomb crying. As she wept, she bent over to look into the tomb and saw two angels in white, seated where Jesus’ body had been, one at the head and the other at the foot. They asked her, “Woman, why are you crying?” “They have taken my Lord away,” she said, “and I don’t know where they have put him.” – John 20:11-13
Empty
Friday
Dawn breaks.
Behind bars.
Hosannas hushed.
Insults instead.
Trumped up charges.
Angry, jealous Jews.
Scheming priests.
Frenzied mob.
Pontious Pilate.
“But what has he done?”
“Crucify him! Crucify him!”
Head shaking.
Hand washing.
Soldier’s sport.
Scarlet robe.
Crown of thorns.
Mocked.
Stripped.
Beaten.
Led away.
Shoulder sag.
Beneath the weight.
Carrying the cross.
Up Calvary’s hill.
Hammer to nail.
Flesh pierced.
Blood flowed.
Three crosses.
One sign.
“King of the Jews”.
Sky black.
Earth trembled.
“My God, my God!”
“Why have you forsaken me?”
Veil torn.
He is gone.
Saturday
Empty.
Abandoned.
Alone.
Desperate disciples.
Forsaken followers.
Heads bowed.
Shoulders slumped.
Disheveled.
Disillusioned.
Deserted.
Empty.
The cross stands empty.
He is gone.
Cold, dark tomb.
Sealed with a stone.
He lies there.
Alone.
Sunday
Dark.
Chilly.
Quiet.
Faint glow on the horizon.
Stirring in the shadows.
Silhouettes on the hilltop.
Heads bent, arms laden.
Stares of disbelief.
Murmurs of anguish.
Tears flood their eyes.
The stone rolled away.
Empty tomb.
He is gone.
“Woman, why are you crying?”
“They have taken my Lord away.”
Gentle voice amid the darkness.
Her name is called.
“Mary.”
Shock.
Dismay.
Recognition.
Joy!
The cross stands empty.
The tomb stands empty.
Empty is despair no more.
Alive.
Jesus is Alive!
Empty is Joy!
Christ is Risen!
He is Risen Indeed!
PRAYER
O Lord! Hallelujah! Christ is Risen! We are forgiven! Lord Jesus, we praise You! We are redeemed! Our ransom has been paid. Life is empty no more for You are alive in us. Alive, Alive, Jesus is Alive! All honor, glory, majesty and praise to You, O Lord!
In the Victorious Name of Jesus, we give thanks,
Amen
Easter Blessings,
Anita
Faith Beyond Sight 