Pressing Into Easter

Apr 7 2023 - Ann Wall

The Easter story is all things to all men for all time. If you haven’t yet, somewhere along the way you will find yourself within it. Easter is a story of death and life. People are mesmerized with the idea of life after death. Of course death is scary for most, but not as much if you get to live on afterwards!  

It’s the early parts of the Easter story that make life after death seem so impossible to achieve. The first time I heard the clinical description of His injuries and the physical details of crucifixion, I got angry! How could a pastor throw all that in my face when I was here at church on Easter Sunday, excited to celebrate life after death???  

Self examination is tough. It can be uncomfortable to say the least, but truth sets you free, right? 

I began to look into the Bible. I wanted to verify that what I heard was accurate. Surely NOT!  

(Thomas?) : ) 

Well…I was drawn in. Initially, I felt guilty. As I sought guidance I began to understand that what I felt was actually conviction! I have been told that guilt is a tool or a trap. Guilt vs Conviction—one creates change and the other causes defeat. As I studied the word and the crucifixion, I had a literal change of heart. Within a month I was baptized, and my life has never been the same! I was rescued. I am grateful. I can’t keep it to myself, and He won’t let go of me. Whenever I’ve walked away—BOOM— there He is, looking into my eyes with love. Never angry. Never impatient. Never demanding. Never. And so I take His hand, and away we go…again. Never my last chance. 

It was a rough road to the cross. For Jesus and for me. 

It's still not easy to stand in church with blood on my hands! The mystery of Jesus begging God for our forgiveness is still urging me on. We all want the freedom we receive when we’ve been forgiven. We all want the grace to be forgiving. There’s a loop—He did it for us so that we would know that we can do it for each other. It’s by design that we have to seek Him and all that He did to accomplish what He has for us. Forgiveness brings us together, and He wants us all to be unified. Without unity we can do very little to lead the world to Him. It’s a good thing He’s so patient! 

To date, learning to forgive is the most challenging thing I’ve ever taken on. There is just so much to forgive!  

Yet, He continually calls me to the resurrected life… 

LOVE—the unlovable 

ACCEPT—the unacceptable 

FORGIVE—the unforgivable 

When I contemplate Easter, I feel that He’s right here, hand on my shoulder, guiding me to understand what He has for me within it. Forgiveness, life, unity, freedom…it’s strange that each year He brings up something I haven’t seen before. This Bible is truly alive! When I engage with it, He is so present.