APRIL 1,2013

What a blessed Easter! Prep for sermon and worship... a wonderful time with Peter and Liz and her family.... Worship with Orlando Presbyterian was stunning and inspiring...then out to dinner with new friends... a catch up phone call with an old friend... God is so Good!
Contentment, joy and happiness = Linda's life.

Easter!

Very early in the morning, first the soldiers sent to guard the tomb, discover the tomb is empty. Then the women come, expecting to complete the burial rituals for Jesus, and they find an empty grave. Peter and John come running to confirm the women's testimony. There are two extraordinary aspects to this story. 1. No one expected Jesus to rise from the dead and 2. Jesus did indeed rise from the grave!
  

Holy Saturday

It is Holy Saturday... a time of darkness, confusion, grief... but Sunday's a'coming:-)

John 20:30-31

"Jesus performed many other signs in the presence of his disciples, which are not recorded in this book. But these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name."

John 20:19-29

They saw him die, his lifeless body hanging on that vile cross. How could this be? The women reported he was alive.. but who believes a women's testimony. It was Sunday night and they still hadn't seen him for themselves. They were huddled behind a locked door, afraid and bewildered. "Jesus came and stood among them and said, 'Peace be with you!' After he said this, he showed them his hands and side. The disciples were overjoyed when they saw the Lord." After three years of constant contact with him, this was so different but in some ways, the same. He sounded like their "Jesus"... he had the same mix of compassion and Truth... he still could see right through them ... he knew them so well.

JOHN 20:10-18

Her tears gave expression to the grief, weariness, confusion and worry. The tomb was empty. Who would take his body? Wasn't he humiliated enough in  death? ... What would they do to his body? She looked inside again, but this time she saw angels! She turned and ran into the Creator, Redeemer, resurrected Lord of the universe! This Mary Magdalene, once oppressed by demonic forces, was now the spokesperson of liberating news, "I have seen the Lord!"

Icon of St. Mary Magdalene holding a red Easter egg with the words Christ is Risen

JOHN 20:1-9

In the darkness right before dawn, women disciples went to the tomb to morn and pray. But they found an open tomb and no body. They went running for help...and Peter and John quickly responded by running back to the empty tomb. John gets it! The others need more time. He is Risen!