Weekend Words (Easter)

From Beside the Still Waters...

Abide With Us - Read: Luke 24:1-32

"But they constrained him, saying, Abide with us: for it is towards evening, and the day is far spent." - Luke 24:29

At the dawning of this most glorious morning in the history of mankind, while the world lay hushed, several women were on their way to Jesus' tomb.  As far as they knew, its opening was covered by a great stone that they could not roll away, with the imperial seal of the Roman government on it so that no man might dare to move it.  The women also thought a detachment of soldiers was guarding the tomb.

But they were going anyway.  And behold, the mighty Roman Empire and its soldiers had proved strictly powerless before the angel who came to roll the stone away.  When it was time for our Savior to rise from the dead, all opposing forces were as nothing.  Oh, the praise due to our God for this most wonderful morning!  The completion of God's marvelous plan of salvation had been accomplished for all mankind.

Again in this account, we see the personal care that Jesus has for each of His followers individually.  That evening when two disciples were walking toward Emmaus, Jesus walked with them and talked with them and explained the Scriptures to them.  When they neared their destination, "he made as though he would have gone farther."  Had they not given Him the invitation, "Abide with us," He would not have tarried there.  But they did invite Him, and soon their eyes were opened and they knew Him.  As we observe this special day of remembering what Jesus has done for us, may we also invite Him to abide with us so that our eyes may be opened, we may receive understanding, and we may know Him.

Allen Hoover - Ephrata, PA

From Be Still and Know...

"Because I live, ye shall live also" (John 14:19)

In a world on the brink of collapse, gripped by hate and filled with despair, Easter has a powerful message.  It brings a message of LOVE, PEACE, and HOPE, for it is a message of LIFE.  "Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live" (John 11:25).

Men's biographies end with their death; not so with the story of Jesus.  He rose from the dead, becoming the Living Savior.  In Revelation 1:18 we read, "I am He that liveth, and was dead; and, behold, I am alive for evermore."

One day a man stood looking in a shop window at the picture of the crucifixion.  Standing next to him was a ragged little street urchin, lost in contemplation of the picture.  Wondering if the boy really understood its meaning, the man said, "Sonny, what does it mean?"  "Don't you know?" the boy replied.  "That man is Jesus.  The woman crying is His mother.  The others are the Roman soldiers."  He paused, then continued, "They killed Him."  The man turned away.  In a moment he heard steps running after him.  It was the little boy.  Breathlessly the boy said, "Say, mister, I forgot to tell you.  He rose from the dead."

Jesus' death and resurrection give us the promise of life everlasting.  "...Because I LIVE, ye shall LIVE also."

The personal possession of the life of the Risen Savior gives peace, power, and purpose for our daily living.  Jesus said, "I came that they may HAVE (not will have) and enjoy life, and have it in abundance - to the full, till it overflows" (John 10:10 Amplified).  His life filling our lives gives us power to meet each situation and is sufficient for each day.

Has Easter lost any of the freshness and reality of its meaning for you?  Is the presence of the Christ of Easter real to you?  Knowing the nearness of His presence doesn't depend on our feelings; we accept it by faith.  One of our lovely Easter songs asks the question "You ask me how I know He lives?"  The answer, "HE LIVES WITHIN MY HEART."