The “final words” said on the cross were not Jesus’ last words! He returned to speak some more. He speaks to us today, on the other side of an empty tomb. His words are our new life. His resurrection makes us an Easter People who, like Jesus, have “come back from the dead.”
People who report near-death experiences find themselves changed. A close call makes them more appreciative of life, less anxious, less angry, more patient, more enthusiastic. In some ways, this echoes Jesus’ approach to living. His vision is always set on the Father’s purposes, not his own. We can live like that, too!
Easter season lasts from Easter Sunday until Pentecost, some fifty days. During this season, our worship series will focus on God’s purposes, not our own. We’ll look at what it means to walk away from the grave with the new life of Jesus, living with renewed understanding, and acting in line with the fruits of the Spirit: joy, hope, peace, and love.
A good companion book to this sermon series is Max Lucado’s IT’S NOT ABOUT ME.