As we enter this weekend, I wanted to send out to all of you an excerpt from the musical “My Utmost For His Highest,” which chronicles the account of both His death and resurrection. Please take a moment today to read this, allow it to sink in deeply, and reflect on just how powerful it all was… and still is! And even though I am not able to attend the Easter service Sunday morning, rest assured that I will rejoice with each and every one of you as we proclaim:
HALLELUJAH! The Lord is risen! He is risen, indeed! HALLELUJAH!
I would have to let you see His last days of suffering. How He was betrayed by one friend, and denied by another; how He was arrested by Roman soldiers who whipped Him until His back was torn and bleeding. They put a scarlet robe on His shoulders, and a crown of thorns on His head. They spit on Him and mocked Him and beat Him in the face until He was unrecognizable. Then, when He was so weak He could hardly stand, they forced Him to carry His own cross to a place called Calvary, where they drove nails into His hands and feet and lifted Him on a cross above the scornful crowd below. After hours of agony, struggling just to get a breath, He cried out, “My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?” Then, the temple veil was ripped from top to bottom, and as Jesus died the greatest note of triumph ever sounded in the ears of a startled universe was heard: “It is finished!”
But the story isn’t over yet. There is a borrowed tomb, and a massive stone that seals its opening. Come with me there, and keep watch. The first day, in shock and grief as we relive the brutal death we SAW Him die. The second day, feeling the pain of our loss. And on the third day… the third day… something strange is happening. Beneath our feet, the earth is trembling. Suddenly our eyes are blinded by a brilliant light, and then we see an angel dressed in white pushing back the stone. Breathlessly we watch as Jesus comes forth from the tomb in awesome power and majesty, and a great wave of worship washes over us that we cannot contain. We cry out with all creation:
“Worthy is the Lamb Who was slain. Worthy is the One Who was dead, and is now alive forevermore. At the name of Jesus, let every knee bow, in Heaven and on earth and under the earth, and let every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is LORD!”
HALLELUJAH! The Lord is risen! He is risen, indeed! HALLELUJAH!
I would have to let you see His last days of suffering. How He was betrayed by one friend, and denied by another; how He was arrested by Roman soldiers who whipped Him until His back was torn and bleeding. They put a scarlet robe on His shoulders, and a crown of thorns on His head. They spit on Him and mocked Him and beat Him in the face until He was unrecognizable. Then, when He was so weak He could hardly stand, they forced Him to carry His own cross to a place called Calvary, where they drove nails into His hands and feet and lifted Him on a cross above the scornful crowd below. After hours of agony, struggling just to get a breath, He cried out, “My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?” Then, the temple veil was ripped from top to bottom, and as Jesus died the greatest note of triumph ever sounded in the ears of a startled universe was heard: “It is finished!”
But the story isn’t over yet. There is a borrowed tomb, and a massive stone that seals its opening. Come with me there, and keep watch. The first day, in shock and grief as we relive the brutal death we SAW Him die. The second day, feeling the pain of our loss. And on the third day… the third day… something strange is happening. Beneath our feet, the earth is trembling. Suddenly our eyes are blinded by a brilliant light, and then we see an angel dressed in white pushing back the stone. Breathlessly we watch as Jesus comes forth from the tomb in awesome power and majesty, and a great wave of worship washes over us that we cannot contain. We cry out with all creation:
“Worthy is the Lamb Who was slain. Worthy is the One Who was dead, and is now alive forevermore. At the name of Jesus, let every knee bow, in Heaven and on earth and under the earth, and let every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is LORD!”
