Easter Week
Easter week in the scriptures is chock full of eventful events and colorful people and drama and plot twists.
Each of the four gospel writers, with their specific audience in mind, tell the passion week story from their perspective, so each one has a distinct flavor, but they all describe the same things from the Triumphal Entry of Palm Sunday through the days of that last week culminating in the execution of Jesus on Friday when it seemed all hope was lost. But like Tony Campolo says, "It's Friday...but Sunday's comin'!" Sunday morning Jesus defeated the last enemy, death, and rose from the grave. And nothing would be the same ever again.
This week, I won't step into the flow of the week with any Al-commentary. For me, all the drama speaks for itself and leads steadfastly to Friday's horror, erased by Sunday's glory. Through the pain and loss to the newness of life. Some of the old hymns seem to touch the heart of the matter so well, I will let them speak, without much comment.
The Methodists really did a fine job wrapping words and music around story. Here is one of the best, by Robert Lowry, written in 1974.
1) Low in the grave he lay, Jesus my Savior,
waiting the coming day, Jesus my Lord!(refrain)
Up from the grave he arose;
with a mighty triumph o'er his foes;
he arose the victor from the dark domain,
and he lives forever, with his saints to reign.
He arose! He arose! Hallelujah! Christ arose!2) Vainly they watch his bed, Jesus my Savior,
vainly they seal the dead, Jesus my Lord!Up from the grave he arose;
with a mighty triumph o'er his foes;
he arose the victor from the dark domain,
and he lives forever, with his saints to reign.
He arose! He arose! Hallelujah! Christ arose!3) Death cannot keep its prey, Jesus my Savior;
he tore the bars away, Jesus my Lord!Up from the grave he arose;
with a mighty triumph o'er his foes;
he arose the victor from the dark domain,
and he lives forever, with his saints to reign.
He arose! He arose! Hallelujah! Christ arose!
Lowry catches the honest emotion of the hopelessness of a grave juxtaposed to the amazement of the resurrection. Imagining Jesus storming out of the grip of death as victor over any and all threats to life and wholeness.
And one more is worth the time to read and ponder its meaning. This one is by Charles Wesley from way back in 1739, and is maybe the most recognizable Easter hymn. Read the stanzas slowly and catch his heart as he works to wrap his arms around such a huge idea.
Christ the Lord is risen today, Alleluia!
Earth and heaven in chorus say, Alleluia!
Raise your joys and triumphs high, Alleluia!
Sing, ye heavens, and earth reply, Alleluia!Love's redeeming work is done, Alleluia!
Fought the fight, the battle won, Alleluia!
Death in vain forbids him rise, Alleluia!
Christ has opened paradise, Alleluia!Lives again our glorious King, Alleluia!
Where, O death, is now thy sting? Alleluia!
Once he died our souls to save, Alleluia!
Where's thy victory, boasting grave? Alleluia!Soar we now where Christ has led, Alleluia!
Following our exalted head, Alleluia!
Made like him, like him we rise, Alleluia!
Ours the cross, the grave, the skies, Alleluia!Hail the Lord of earth and Heaven, Alleluia!
Praise to thee by both be given, Alleluia!
Thee we greet triumphant now, Alleluia!
Hail the Resurrection, thou, Alleluia!King of glory, soul of bliss, Alleluia!
Everlasting life is this, Alleluia!
Thee to know, thy power to prove, Alleluia!
Thus to sing, and thus to love, Alleluia!
May the love of the Father fill you with understanding concerning the sacrifice and triumph of the Son, and may the Holy Spirit keep fresh in your heart the truth of the week in which we again find ourselves. Consider reading along with the week's events as Jesus and his followers move closer toward the dramatic conclusion that is Easter Sunday.
He is risen. He is risen, indeed!
Music this week is all Easter stuff
And a funny or maybe two, because a friend reminded me Sunday that it's good to laugh!
A guy bought a new fridge. He put the old one in his front yard with a sign: "Free to good home - you want it, you take it."
For three days the fridge just sat there. So he changed the sign to read: "Fridge for sale $50".
The next day someone stole it.
__________
Two guys walking on the beach found an old brass lamp.
The first guy immediately started rubbing it really hard and yelling for something to happen and, sure enough, a Genie popped out!
Before he could say anything at all, the Genie turned him into a crab.
The other guy was horrified and shouted, "Oh my gosh! Why did you do that??"
The Genie said, "Aww, he just rubbed me the wrong way."