For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.
1 Corinthians 1:18
Today remembers Jesus’ resurrection. The whole idea of someone rising from the dead sounds like an April Fool’s joke. Who could believe in such a thing? Well, the early disciples of Jesus claimed they saw him afterward and died proclaiming it. No one in his right mind suffers or dies for a lie. I can almost imagine Jesus telling the world, “You thought I was dead for good? April Fool’s! I’m back!”
This has been by far my most memorable Easter Sunday to date.
I arose early to leave for a sunrise service at 6:00 am at the Augusta Victoria on the Mount of Olives. How many sunrise services actually watch the sun rise? I got to see it rise over the hills of Jordan. It was even clear enough to see the skyscrapers of Amman about 40 miles away! It was a great way to ring in the new day.
As if that wasn’t enough, I went to another service in the Old City at 9:30, which was powerful. To think: I’m in Jerusalem in close proximity (this place isn’t very big) to all the events of the last week before Jesus’ death and right by where he came back to life! How amazing is that! The pastor left us with a great quote:
If Christ is risen, nothing else matters. And if Christ is not risen—nothing else matters.
Jaroslav Pelikan
After a little relaxation, it was time for fun and food at JUC. It started with an Easter egg hunt next door in the cemetery. While being in a place of death today seems awkward, I feel it’s a reminder of the final resurrection that all who proclaim Jesus as Lord await. We played some games: an egg relay race, egg toss, and water balloon toss. Then the BBQ until we slowly dispersed. What a great way to celebrate!
