Encountering Jesus

“This is freedom. This is peace. This is joy in uncertainty. This is a deeply rooted inner-knowing. You are on a daily, grace-filled journey.”

-Morgan Harper Nichols

Happy Easter!

I know that this is probably a bittersweet day for you, as you find joy in the celebration of Jesus’ resurrection, but feel somber not being able to congregate. Before the virus was publicized as how serious it is now, my first hope was that church would be open for Easter. Although it is still disappointing, I believe that there is a lot that can be taken away from having Easter at home this year.

Our Journeys

I often teach Sunday school at my church, and one lesson that I taught a while back was called “Our Journey with Jesus”. The kids were supposed to take a literal journey through different activities that related to Jesus’ life as a child. I often think that our life is one long journey with Jesus, one that takes different paths at times as we figure out what we truly believe.

My pastor this morning mentioned that the Bible does not explicitly say how Mary Magdalene knew it was Jesus once He said her name. It was in an instant that she just knew.

Humans are unique creatures that have to come to their own conclusions in different ways. Our way of recognizing Jesus is so different from even our family members or friends. But it doesn’t mean that one way is better than another.

Our lives are normally so crazy that it’s easy to block out Jesus’ voice. But here in the silence, the stillness, the pause on the daily lives of many, Jesus will find you. Not every moment of finding Jesus is one where we are surrounded by our brothers and sisters in Christ. Not every moment is in some faraway retreat center or foreign country.

It can be here. It can be now. As long as you let Jesus fill you with His love, grace, and abundant mercy, you can have that moment no matter where you are.

I hope this Easter brings you joy and contentment, a sense of peace in this time of great uncertainty. We can still have those emotions that God wants us to have on such a wonderful, miraculous day for celebration.

“Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead.”

1 Peter 1:3

“Jesus said to her, ‘I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live, and everyone who lives and believes in me shall never die. Do you believe this?'”

John 11:25-26