From the Depths of Despair, to the Heights of Glory...

Easter Sunday 

Resurrection Day 

Feast of First Fruits 

Today is the day when Christians around the world 

remember and reflect 

on the greatest event that history has ever witnessed.  

A day when death was defeated, and life came forth. 

The darkest day in history after Jesus suffered a tortured death on a cross
and was buried 

a day when it seemed all hope that ever was, 

was lost. 

Yet even in the torment of the moment of His death, 

new life was coming forth, 

even though not evident at first 

for those who should have been looking for it. 

All hope seemed lost, 

and the world a cold and empty place, 

as cold as the tomb 

our Lord's body was placed in.

Where was the hope that had been in their hearts 

just the week before 

when the masses were crying Hosanna? 

Where was the hope now?  

On a cross. 

In a tomb. 

Dead. 

The darkness of the night and the day 

rose up like bile in the throats and hearts 

of those who had given up all to follow Jesus. 

And now, all that was left was 

a lonely cross, a dead body, 

and broken hearts. 

What they couldn't see, and didn't know

was that new life was coming forth

but it took 

DEATH

in order for it to come to pass.  

It took darkness, torment, and despair, 

in order to bring forth the promise 

of new life they had heard spoken of 

from the heart of their Lord.  

And while the storms in their hearts were raging 

with the greatest despair, 

the greatest miracle of all was taking place.  

LIFE coming forth out of death 

LOVE was preparing to unleash itself 

in its most miraculous powerful form upon the world

and they didn't even know it.  

It took death on the cross, 

and complete despair in the hearts of mankind, 

to bring forth 

the greatest wonder 

the greatest miracle 

the world had ever known. 

All the power, and the glory, and the life
promised to mankind 

was about to unfold when on the third day.. 

As the clouds parted way for the most glorious sunrise of all

Jesus came forth from the grave 

and revealed Himself 

to those who doubted, 

to those who despaired, 

to those who felt all hope had been lost. 

The greatest moment in history was born 

out of the greatest despair mankind had ever felt. 

The greatest darkness that had come upon the world 

now saw new LIGHT

LIGHT that had never been seen before, 

it was LIGHT of the glorious hope in the words 

HE IS RISEN! 

From death, and out of the depths of despair, 

came LIFE and LOVE 

such as the world had never known.  

And this LIFE, this POWER, this GLORY was 

for you, 

and for me! 

The greatest miracle of all that took place more than two thousand years ago 

is still the miracle that is alive in our hearts today - 

It is the miracle of LOVE that gave all 

so that the glorious HOPE of the gospel would live forever in our hearts... 

it is a MIRACLE that has not ceased,
that has not decreased in the thousands of years since... 

it is a JOY no earthly tongue can ever adequately share, 

a PEACE that holds fast in the darkest of nights, 

and a LIGHT that brings hope to those who have none.  

I am THANKFUL, so very thankful for the LIFE that came forth out of death, 

and for the POWER from on high that came through the greatest sacrifice, 

the greatest loss, the greatest despair, 

so that I - and you - 

could share in the greatest miracle, 

the greatest joy, 

and the greatest hope 

that mankind will ever know.  

Romans 8:35-39

Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? 

Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? 

As it is written, For thy sake we are killed all the day long; 

we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter. 

Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us. 

For I am persuaded, that neither 

death, 

nor life, 

nor angels, 

nor principalities, 

nor powers,

 nor things present, 

nor things to come, 

Nor height, 

nor depth, 

nor any other creature, 

shall be able to separate us 

from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

May you remember with glorious hope and thankfulness 

the miracle that took place 2000 years ago, 

and I pray that the miracles of 

hope, life, joy, peace, and power 

are yours today as you celebrate 

HE IS RISEN! today!