Easter, Real and Powerful

By |Published On: April 4, 2021|Categories: Joni's Posts|

Happy Resurrection Day, the best of all days! Millions of Christians around the world today are celebrating the resurrection of Jesus, our Lord and Savior. And oh, is my heart singing!

You and I know Easter is not about bunnies and candy-filled eggs, but often we settle for an image of Easter that similarly misses the point. We think of Jesus surrounded by bluebirds and cherub-like children, and with flowers springing up wherever he walks. We romanticize Jesus so much that we lose touch with the reality of that horrible, wonderful week leading up to his resurrection — the soul-slicing tears, the blood, gore, and agony of him becoming sin for us.

People seem to prefer the “cleaned up” version of Christ and Calvary.

But why do we prefer a sentimental picture? I think it’s because a romanticized version of Christ’s death and resurrection requires nothing from us, neither conviction nor commitment. But such a version lacks truth, it lacks power.

Romanticists try to color the resurrection with lilies and birds, and while there is nothing wrong with enjoying the bloom of an Easter lily or the twittering of birds at a sunrise service, there’s so much more to the story. So, for a moment, lay aside any gilded, sunshiny images about Easter and instead, consider the facts: a man, ashen and gray and stone-cold dead, literally rose from his slab, and walked out of his grave.

That’s almost frightening.

But that’s what Jesus did—his resurrection is proof that he satisfied the exacting demands of God’s justice, destroyed the grip of Satan on our hearts, and secured for us a rich salvation we simply do not deserve!

That reality has power; it’s a reality that grips you. Some people believe Jesus came to do nice, sweet things like turn bad people into good. Not so. As someone once said, our Lord and Savior came to turn dead people into living ones—and there’s nothing sentimental about that.

On Resurrection Morning, the dark curse of sin was broken and the power of the grave vanquished.

God the Father planned it, the Son endured it, and the Spirit now applies to us every benefit from Christ’s wondrous resurrection!

So today, erase any images of syrupy sweetness you may have nurtured about the Lord. Replace them with the heart-gripping picture of your powerful God who overcame the harshest foe—death itself—to secure for us the certain promise of a relationship so deep and intimate and real with him, that it meets every longing of your heart.

It’s the promise we have in Jesus, all because he rose from the dead.

As this truth dawns in your heart today, be like Mary Magdalene on that long ago Resurrection Morning. Just as she ran to tell the disciples the news of the empty tomb; in the same way, we must run and tell the world the Good News of Jesus (John 20:1-8). Because until that glorious day comes when Jesus returns to call us home, we’ve got work to do!

-Joni Eareckson Tada

Support Joni and Friends!

Today, you can partner with us and come alongside families living with disability! Your prayers and support make a monumental difference in the lives of many – now and for all eternity! 

Recent Posts