Faith,
This Easter Sunday promises to be beautiful. In fact, that’s the title of my Easter message: Life is Beautiful! While atheists, Muslims, Buddhists, Jews, and Christians may disagree on many things, we all share a common longing for beauty. Imagine us all standing at the edge of the Grand Canyon, and each of us would agree: “Beautiful!”
However, not all of life appears beautiful. I believe we can all agree that when beauty encounters wickedness, there’s a sense of loss, mourning, and a deep longing for beauty’s return. Humans not only appreciate beauty but also yearn for its restoration.
Jesus’ disciples must have found His teachings beautiful. Think of the healings—beautiful! The compassion He showed the “least of these” must have ignited that same longing for beauty in every one of their hearts.
But let’s put ourselves in their shoes for a moment, watching Him being arrested, tortured, mocked, spat upon, raised on a cross, and executed. Can death be beautiful? Can a Friday of execution ever be called “good” or “beautiful”?
I highly doubt “Beautiful!” was the word on any disciple’s lips on that Holy Saturday. Of course, they didn’t know what we know—Sunday is coming! BEAUTIFUL!
In Christ alone,
Pastor Brad
Here are some videos to ignite your heart and mind this Holy Week:
The Resurrection of Jesus: Luke 24 (5:15)
4 Proofs of the Resurrection – Lee Strobel (2:19)
Salvation and the resurrection… What does it all mean? (3:22)
***There are no message notes this week.