Living Between the Two Easters

" He is not here: for He is risen, as He said."    Matthew 28:6a

The late, British minister, William E. Sangster, was stricken with a progressive illness that was taking his voice and would eventually rob him of the ability to preach to his congregation. One day he said to a friend, "It is going to be a terrible thing to be unable to stand in a pulpit on Easter and say, 'Christ is risen.' But I can think of something much worse. That is to stand in a pulpit on Easter Sunday and say, 'Christ is not risen.'"

This coming Sunday, Christians worldwide will gather to celebrate the resurrection of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. We can do so because Christianity begins where other religions end. Different religions may point to a founder, but they must also point to a founder's grave. Only Christianity can point to an empty tomb.

During the Tang dynasty, some bones from Buddha's fingers were sent to the emperor of China. They were later forgotten about and then found in 1981. The finding was a sensation to Buddhists everywhere, and the bones are now visited by many of Buddha's faithful followers.

Our faith is founded on the fact that there are  NO  bones to find - Christ rose from the dead! If someone claimed to find a bone that belonged to Christ, no Christian would believe them. Buddha is in the grave; Christ is in heaven.

The German theologian, Erich Sauer, wrote:

"The present age is Easter time. It begins with the resurrection of the Redeemer and ends with the resurrection of the redeemed. Between lies the spiritual 'resurrection' of those called into life. So we live between two Easters, as those who have been raised between two resurrections. And in the power of the  First Easter,  we go to meet the  Last Easter.  The resurrection of Christ, the Head, guarantees the resurrection of the members, His followers."

What a glorious thought: we are living between two Easters!

Forty days after the first Easter, Jesus Christ returned to heaven, sent the Holy Spirit, and on the Day of Pentecost, His Church was born. The last Easter will be when He returns for His Church. Believers who have died will be resurrected and, together with those still alive, will be  'caught up'  to meet the Lord in the air.

In the meantime, what does He expect of His Church?

On the evening of the first Easter, Jesus suddenly appeared to His disciples. They were assembled behind closed doors for fear of the Jews. He said to them, " Peace be unto you: as My Father hath sent Me, even so send I you."   John 20:19,21

This commission is for His followers everywhere, and there are lessons to be learned from our Lord's statement.

1. It means that Jesus Christ needs the Church.  

The Apostle Paul called the Church 'the body of Christ.' Jesus had been sent with a message. He was going back to His Father. If the Church does not take His message to all men and women, who will? Jesus needs the voice of every member of His Church to speak His Word. He needs our hands and feet to do His work. Jesus Christ depends on His Church to get His gospel message to a lost and dying world - He died for our sins, was buried, and rose again!

2. It means that the Church needs Jesus.

Messengers need power and authority to back the message. Without Jesus, there is no message. Without Him, the Church has no power. The Church is entirely dependent upon Jesus.

Thomas missed the first appearance of Jesus after His resurrection. The disciples saw proof that Jesus was alive, yet Christ found them hiding in fear. Thomas was missing from the group. On the first Easter, he made a mistake; he withdrew from the Christian fellowship of his brothers in Christ.

We have just come through two unprecedented years in the history of our country. There is no doubt we are living in frightening, uncertain, and perilous times. Sadly too many in the body of Christ have chosen to withdraw from the fellowship of their local Church. There are many in the body of Christ praying for revival, myself included. Many are joining the cry of the prophet Isaiah, "O God, rend the heavens and come." Any day I am expecting that to happen. His glory will come into our small, local assemblies and fall upon those who are crying out to Him night and day. Are you going to be like Thomas and miss it?

From the beginning, Christian fellowship was one of the top priorities in the early Church. The Bible instructs believers not to neglect fellowship, especially as the day of Christ draws near  (Hebrews 10:25).  The early Church faced the imminent threat of beatings, imprisonment, and even death, yet they continued to assemble for fellowship. If they had chosen to hide in their homes, the gospel might never have reached you and me.

In 1799, the armies of Napoleon appeared on the heights above the town of Feldkirch, Austria. It was Easter Sunday, and the fully armed French army covered the hills to the west of town. The Town Council hastily met to decide what to do. After much discussion, the dean of the Church rose and said, "My brothers, it is Easter Day! We have been reckoning our strength, and that fails. Let us turn to God. Let's ring the bells, have service as usual, and leave the matter in God's hands." They agreed to do as he said.

As the church bells rang out, the streets filled with worshipers hastening to the Church. Before the bells ceased ringing, not a Frenchman was seen! The French heard the sudden ringing of the bells with alarm, and thinking the Austrian army had arrived, they hastily fled.

Christian believer, you need the Church; the Church needs you. My prayer is that believers all over this nation will fill churches this Easter Sunday, and church bells will ring so loudly across the land our leaders in Washington, D.C., can hear it!

I urge you this Sunday morning to put on your best suit, your Easter dress, and your hat. Ring the bells! Go to Church and celebrate your risen Savior. Take advantage of the liberty we still have and leave the rest in God's hands!

Lift up your head; the  Last Easte r  is drawing nigh!

From my heart to yours,

Happy Easter!