“So they went out quickly from the tomb with fear and great joy, and ran to bring His disciples word. And as they went to tell His disciples, behold, Jesus met them, saying, ‘Rejoice!’ So they came and held Him by the feet and worshiped Him.” Matthew 28:8-9

Easter Joy

The Lord got me up early this morning, bringing to remembrance a sunrise Easter service I attended while home from college many years ago. It was the same small church in which I had accepted Jesus as my Lord and Savior as a young child. It was snowing that Easter morning. I remember the hot cocoa someone put in my hands and the quilt they lovingly wrapped around me. I had not attended the church in years, and yet you would have thought I had been there faithfully every Sunday since my salvation. Oh, the beauty of being part of the family of God.

It was cold and as we sat in the church parking lot with the snow fast covering the asphalt, we awaited the dawn of Easter morning, singing old hymns and seeing the vapor of our breath. As the sun started to rise we gave a shout of joy, a bit for the warmth of the sun, but so much more for the victory of the Son. “Fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God” (Hebrews 12:2 NASB).

 Jesus put on flesh, came to earth, died, and rose again so we could be reconciled to the Father—to give the Father the joy of being with His kids, us. Doesn’t that boggle your mind?

That was my first sunrise Easter service, and the one that stands out most in my mind. All over the world there were people just like us waiting with great anticipation to welcome in the day that celebrated the risen King (Matthew 28:5-10).

I pray, if you have not already accepted Jesus as your Lord and Savior, you will take this opportunity to do so. Romans 10:9 tells us: “If you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.” Let your Easter joy start today!

“Father God, thank You so much for Your Son and the gift of eternal life He brought on the first Easter morning over 2,000 years ago. May our hearts be filled with joy as we celebrate His victory once again. Amen.”