Greetings to you in the name that changes everything, Jesus Christ – THE Risen Saviour! I trust that you week has been good thus far. We have another damp dreary day so we had better radiate the light and warmth of God’s presence as we move through the day. As you have noticed this is Holy Thursday and as such will be the last “blog day” until after Easter. Therefore I will be praying for you, asking Father to reveal to you a renewed understanding of the whole Easter experience and to affirm to you that God continues to write His story on the pages of your heart.
This Easter Sunday I am planning to preach for the first time this year…I need your prayer support. I, also, need this Easter weekend, for many times I have encountered the life-changing and faith-deepening power that draws close during this season. My life has been turned upside-down and I need, desperately need, the message of Easter. I need to know what is really real.
I need to take a fresh look at Calvary and an empty cross so that I can be reminded that the worst things that happen are not the final things. I need to see and be affirmed that the motif of the cross is much like a “plus sign” and not a “minus sign” !
I need to stare again at that empty tomb in the garden so that I can declare with assurance that nothing is hopeless…all is not lost. God always had and has the final move.
I need to understand afresh that a “resurrection” can happen when I least expect it. I need to remember that there are times when I have to be disoriented so that I can be reoriented.
Easter sings to me: Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. Philippians 2:9-11. think it is important to note that God did not simply give Him “a name” but “the name” … that is above and beyond every name. Therefore when someone says the name – ‘heart failure’ … there is a name above that or when I hear the name – ‘cancer’ … there is a name above that or when I hear – ‘brokenness’ or ‘failure’ or loneliness’ or ‘family breakdown’ or ‘war’ or ‘depression’ or _________ …there is a name above and beyond. Please note, it is not just “a name” but “the name” … “the name” that has been validated through an empty manger and an empty cross and an empty tomb.
“Jesus Christ” – the name above every name – is alive!
Have a great Easter weekend and may you be apprehended by “The Name!”