Jesus was crucified, in the evening, a man who had been waiting for the kingdom of heaven went to Pilate and asked for the body Jesus.  Pilate, who had wanted nothing to do with the entire situation, was surprised Jesus was dead already.  He allowed the body of Jesus to be given to the man, Joseph of Arimathea.  Joseph purchased linen cloth, wrapped Jesus’ body in it and laid him in a tomb.  On the Sabbath, two women, Mary Magdalene and Mary, the mother of Joses witnessed the burial.

On the day after the Sabbath, again Mary Magdalene went to the tomb, Mary the mother of James, and Salome went with her.  The stone was rolled away, they went into the tomb and saw a young man dressed in a white robe.

The body wrapped in linen was gone. The young man told the women that Jesus the Nazarene had risen. And he told them to go and tell his disciples to go to Galilee where they would see him. And they did, and Jesus told them to go and preach the good news to all creation.  In Mark’s Gospel Jesus told them that certain signs would accompany those people who believe.    ( Mark 15:42- 16:1-19)

The stories about what happened after the crucifixion, conversations between the soldiers and guards, between the disciples and other people.  The accounts of the resurrection meetings and ascension into heaven are all found in the Gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke and John.  And we hold them in our hearts and minds to be true and so the Good News is being preached, and people are being baptized in the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit, sick are being made well, sins are being forgiven and all because . . . God loved the world and gave us His One and Only Holy Son.  Through him we have all been given the right to become children of God and heirs of his eternal promise.  A life of Peace.

Jesus was born to save us from sin.

Jesus lived without sin to set people free from sin.

Jesus carried the sins of the people on the cross

Jesus forgave sin from the cross

Jesus rose from the grave

Jesus is alive!  Resurrected from the tomb for me and you.

Those who believe will be saved from condemnation.

Lord God, help us to live in the truth and knowledge of your love and saving grace.  Help us to forgive ourselves and others when we fail to live in love and peace.  Give your people strength to do the work you have given us to do.  Lead us into your way of Peace and life.  We ask this for the sake of the building up of your heavenly kingdom on earth, as it is in heaven.  AMEN

A prayer of surrender for those who are ready :

Lord God, I have struggled with you. I have struggled with your words.

I have struggled with the stories.

I have struggled with sin.

I am tired of struggling Lord.

Please forgive me of my sin.

Please give to me a Spirit of Belief and

Wisdom to understand your ways and your will and plan for my life.

Lord, I give you my life.

Help me to live in your grace.

AMEN

There is an Easter Service near you, I pray you will approach one with confidence in God’s love for you.

Easter Blessings . . .