EASTER MEDITATION

i \
Le hw)
’ WY STORY IS TOLD OF A MAN WHO SHOD AND LOOK&D AT THA?)

i

CANYON FOR 1

MORE FITTING ON EASTER MORNING, AS WE SURVEY TH& EVENTS S
———

Y OF THE GRAND

piOUNDING J&SUS' CRUCIFIXION

DEJ MCTED DISCIPLES,/AS WS LOOK BACK OVER THE CENTURIES AND

N CHURCH,/OR AS WE MERELY CONTEMPLATE CHRIS}

WHO AT THIS VERY MOMANT ARE OBSERVING EASTER WITH US,

3

|

WORDS THAN "SOMETHING HAS HA SD HERE"

weer THE DISCIPLES WERE CRUSHES R MASTER HAD DIED, EV

prs :

PONJER THE ALMOST MIRACULOUS CHANGE THAT VANE OVER THE FORLORN AND

SEE THE CONTINOUS HISTORY

Ris NO MORE APPROPRIATE

sede

bN THOUGH Hii HAD TOLD THEM

MANY TY MES LD

— owe

ONE OF THEIR OW! NUMEER, ONE WHO HAD BHEN WITH THI
Sense IE

FOUR YEARS, WITH THE MASTER, HAD BETRAYSO HIM TO THS AUTHOR

NUMEER, PETER, HAD FOLLOWED HIM ONLY TO DRNY THAT HE EVEN K
2 2

——sa

AS FOR THE OTHER TEN THEY HAD FLED IMMEDIATELY AT THE TIME

THEY MOURNED THe OZATH OF THEIR LORD BUT TWO OTHER EMOTION
———y, —_————— re
ANO DOU | FEAR THAT THEY WOULD) SUFFER THE SAME FATE AS Hi

KNOW TO BE H BUT A SO| SLSE THEY COULD N

THAT FILLED THEIR HEARTS, HAD THEY DEVOTED THEIR LIVES TO

bs VG OR UNDERSTAND. THEIR
UY AS A GROU ppitad MISERABLY
peau

M CONSTANTLY OVER THE PAST
NEW HIM WHEN HE WAS QUESTIONED.
OF THE ARREST. NO DOUBT
BOTHERED THEM miso. Jean
HAD BSCAUSS THEY WERE

h LOSING gauss? HAD THEY

20

DEEN TAKEY IN BY A GOOD SALESMAN? AND THEN MARY MAGDALENE HAD RUSHED IN, PANTING AND

OUT OF BREATH. | six TALKED SO SAST AND WAS SO EXCITED THAT THSY BARELY UNDERSTOOD HER.
———— —_—_—

IT SEiMSD LIKE SHE AND A FEW OF HER FRIENDS HAD GONE TO THE TOMD JUST BEPFORS DAWN 70

PERFORM THE PROP NWICETIES OVR THS BODY OF A LOVED ONE.| BUT WHEN THEY ARRIVED THEY

DISCOVERSD THAT THE GR&AT BOULOER THAT HAD BEEN PLACED IN| THS MOUTH OF THE TOMB HAD PERN

ROLLED AWAY. WHAT WAS nts [if WANTED TO KNOW? HAO THSY PAKEN HIS Bopy.* SUDDENLY PETER

RY
AND JOHN REMEMSSRED HOW HE HAD PROM sad ANU AFTER THRES DAYS THE SUN GF MAN WILL RISE

——

AGAIN." 7 IT HAO JUST SOUNUED LIKE A STORY WHEN HE HAD SATD LT, BUT THIS WAS IT. IT

HAD BEEN THRES DAYS SINCE HLS DEATH. WITHOUT A WORD i RUSHED OUT OF THE VOOR WITH
JOHN BEHIND HIM. JOHN, BEING THE YOUNGER, ARRIVED AT THE) TOMB FIYST_BUT HESTTATED PEERING
IN THROUGH THE STILLNESS. BUT NOT PSTER, HE HAD SUSFERED|THE HEARTSREAK OF DENYING HIS
LORD, /NEVER WOULD HE HESITATS AGAIN. / HE BRUSHED PAST JOH AND BURST INTO THE OPENED

AND LOOKED UNTOUCHED. [ INE HAD STOLEN THE BODY HE | is HAR RL RLSEN. / PERHAPS OF ALL THOSE

THE
WHO SH RED THE GLORIOUS NEWS FETER Wi WAS MOST HAPPY, HE HAi} FALLSD HIS LORD, BUT NOW, NOW

HE @OULD HAVE AhOT JIHER CHANG Wt lve ) WELL KNOW PETER NEV um FALLED AGAIN.

_—_—_—_—_—_—_.,

OR R-SURRECTION TO HER, HE WAs JUST A GOOD FRIEND. AND S@ SHE WHIT BACK TO THS GARDEN

—— ——___.,

Be

THIS TIME SH& FOUND HIM, N

—_—_——,

TO SBARCH AGAIN
—

pao. /

ONLY A DHAR

— et

A

i 4

LIVE, STANDING BEHIND HER SAYING nema, wan

FRIAND AND TEACHER BUT HER REDEEMM@R AND LORD.

—

THE MOST IMPORTANT CHRISTIAN SYMBOL IS THE BMPTY TOMS

DOCTRINE AND BELIEFS WE CAD

NOT AVOID THE RESURRECTION OF 4

et

THE TH

PHGIWNING PLACE AND ;_ END OF OUR FAITH,} IT MAKES EV
—— ee

STANDABLE. IT MAK SS THE LIFE OF JESUS MORS THAN THAT OF |
—————————
CRUCIFIXION MOR THAN AN UNJUST MISTAKE. IT TSSTIFISS THI

eet

MADE FELSH, OUR RIDEEMR AND SAVIOR. WHAT HAPPENED THAT ]
—_—_—
OF THE WEEK IS THE MOST SIGNIFICANT SINGLE “VENT FOR THE

ee

SVEN T WAS SO IMPORTANT TO THE SARLY CHRISTIANS THAT THEY,

TRADITIONAL TIME OF

RIGHT, OR THAT THE STORSS ARE CLOSED THAT DAY,/THS WHOLE |

i

ON WHICH JESUS CHRIST ROSE

ESSENTAILLY ABOUT THE SAME BUSINESS,” CELEDRATING THE RESUH

IT nana? FIFTY ONE SUNDAYS OF THE YAR WE
‘

WHAT DO of

THE BASIS OF OUR FAITH -THE FACT OF THE RESURRECTION IS ES

——=—_—_

TIDAY OF THE WEEK.

E GO TO GiURCH ON SUNDAY ANSWER IS NOT THAT

br INA mou A DEAD MAN, AMONG THE

THEN SHE KNEW TOO, HE

———

. wAS NOT
F IF we TRY TO PUSH THROUGH ALL
BSUS CHRIST. IT IS AT ONCE
PMYTHLNG ELSE REAL AND UNDER*
—————————

} GOOD wf 13 MAK ES

T HE WAS LORD, THE WORD

Hs

FARLY MORNING ON THE FIRST DAY
IVES OF MOST OF US. THE

JEVOUT JEWS, CHANGED THEIR
— ee

WE WANT TO START THE WEEK

LADN IS THAT THIS IS THE DAY

MUET HERE TO WORSHIP WE ARE
RECTION OF OUR LORD.
TTRUGGLE WITH ITS MEANING,: AS

ENTIAL TO EVERY CHRISTIAN

——

4e

seman. | aX0 YET IT IS TEMPTING TO TY TO SUM IT ALL UP

OCCASION. OF COURSE THIS IS AN IMPOSSIBILITY, BUT LET US

MEANING,

FIRSTLY THE WESURRECTLON OF JESUS CHRIST IS THE PROOF

THAT LIFE HAS CONQUERED SIN AND DEATH. THIS wAS THE SUBJ

BUT IT IS IMPORTANT ENOUGH TO BE Re MENTIONED.

AS CHRISTIANS KNX OUR ViIiw OF

THE WORLD, OR PHILOS PH

al AND va THE POTENTIAL FOR BOTH GOOD AND EVIL iS P

KACH ONE OF US, SINCE GOOU Al EVIL ARE POLAR OPPOSITES
_—_——
FOR SUPREMACY. ON EASTER MORNING WE SES THAT GOOD CAN WI

—_—<—

WAS GOODNESS, PERFECTION AND IN HIS CURCIFIXION WE WATCH 1

AND DEATH J SVIL CRUCIFI 2) HIM ANY DEATH CLAIMED HIS LIFE
— —_—————

THE VICTORY AND WE NED _NOT FEAR, HE PALD THE ULTIMTE PR

TO US AS CLEANLY AS POSSIBLE THAT THE VICTORY CAN 5& OURS

FROM DEATH HE TOOK THE S'ING, DEATH HAS ALWAYS BEEN |

HAVE ALVAYS LOATHED THE THOUGHT OF THE NOTHINGNESS OF DEA}

——_$_———

WILLINGLY TO PROVE THAT DEATH 1S NOT FINAL, THAT LIFE IS
—a

GAN NEVE BE QUENCHED.

ee

MG

THE SECOND MOTIF OF TI
ieee eee

HLS MORNING TO MEET THE

LOOK AT TWO ASPSCTS OF ITS

ECT FOR WEONESJAY'S SHHHON

yY OF LIF S RECOGNIZES TwO REALMS,
WO REAL

riihs TS A CONSTANT STRUGGLE

N THAT STURGGLE. JESUS CHRIST
THE STRUGGLE AS HE FAGED EVIL

pU ifs Is aasiaif HE HAS WON

[CE BUT IN SO DCING PROVED

SHROUDED WITH MYSTERY AND FEA@, Mal

fH. JESUS CHRIST DIED

(ORE POWSRFUL THAN DEATH AND

RESURRECTION THAT WE MUST THIWK ABUUT IS EXPRESSED IN THES

5e

v ee
NAKE OF OUR ANTHEM THIS MRNING = HE LIVES.

—————,

—_—

MARY WENT TO THE GARDEN THAT MORNING TO LOOK FOR HER J

J*°SUS AMONG THE DEAD AND SHE COULD NOT FIND HIM. HE WAS J

———

PEFHAPS WE TOO LOOK FOR JESUS CHRIST AMONG THE DEAD.

HiM AND OUR FAITH IN LONG R.cupppLsty, WH OFTEN THINK OF dif

SOLER DEACON, OR THE REVENT MINISTER, OR IN THE SOLBMNITY
———— ———— ———

THE JOY OF EASTER MORNING IS THAT OUR SAVLOR LIVES, HE MAY

———— =

et ———

OF LOVE. ALTHOUGH WE SOMETIMES OUT-DO OURSELVES WITH EASE

IS CHARACTHISTIC OF SPRING TIME TESTLFIGS TO AND IS OUR

—_—_—

a

INSIDE EV RYO OF

—_

US RESIDES THE POTENTIAL FOR G(OD,-

OT miss Hé WAS NOT ou) HE

BICE IN THE GARDEN.

ALL TOO FREQUENTLY We CONTAIN

ZSUS RESIDING ONLY IN THE
OF CHURCH aan 09 He Lives.
——— ——_ or

BE FOUND AMONG THE LIVING,

ER FLOWERS, THE NEQNESS THAT

SYMBOL OF A RESURRECTION IN

THs SPLRIT OF JEWS CHRIST

PLANTED THE BYGOD. AM JUS? AS THE CHRIST BURST FRM THE GRAVE SO THAT FRESHNESS

DURST
———

IN US YEARNS TO BURST FORTH AND BECOME AN OPERATING FORCE
— ee

RESURRECTED AM) TO LIVE IN OUR LIVES. QR MVE WE ALLOWED

——

ii’ OUR LIVES. ON BASTER

A\A
aem 5

HIM TO *® BURIED THERE?

é.

HAVE WE ROLLED THE STON S SECURH.Y BACK IN PLACE FOREVER FOREIDING HIM TO ALTER OUR LIVES.

—

GRAVE; AND A NEWNESS THAT CAN OCCUR IN EACH ONE OF US. WE] CAN GRASP THIS NisWNESS AND

—
eee

FEEL OURSELVES SO CHANGED THAT IT MAY BE SAID WE HAVE FOURBD NEW LI s/ easter won ING

TELLS OF A LIGHT SHINING IN THE DARKNESS, A LIGHT THAT wii, NOT GO OUT. WE MUST DECLDE
2

BACKS FACING INTO THE DARKNESS.
al

JESS CHRIST IS BURIED IN THE HEARTS OF EVERY OHS EG OF US,. THE PLEA OF EASTR

50 INFLUENCE AND (

=
t

a

SAY WITH PAUL,\"IT IS NO LONGER I_ THAT IVE, BUT GikIST Wao LIVES

—

THERE IS NO SUCH TING AS AN EASTER FALTH. FOR SUME REASON IT HAS BHOOME A CHRISTIAN

4 + re

CUSTOM TO ATTEND CHURCH ON EASTER AND CHRISTMAS AND TO LEP THE Res? OF Gis YEAR SLIDE
‘ oe

——== TSS

BY. I DON'T KNOW WHETHER THIS IS THE CASE WITH ANYONE HERE TOMY OR NOT ANDI DON'T
mail

——_—_—$—_—_———e

De aaa

39 RISEN" ARS NOT G)MFINSD TO ONE HOUR OF ONE DAY IN THE WAR. deSUS CHRIST 15 RISM
——————— -_

TOMORROW, NEXT SUNDAY AND THE SUNJARY AFTER THAT AED THROUGHOUT EVERY DAY OF THE
— a

—_—_—<<

TOUAY,

YEAR. THE CHOLR'S A°FIR(ATION THAT "HE LIVES" APPLIES TO] ERY MINUTE OF EVERY DAY. If

HE LIVE If YOUR LIFE SVsRYVAY OR JUST ON

EASTER MORNING PRESENTS A CHALLENGE.

EASTER.. DOES A RISEN SAVIOR MZAN SOME TIING TO YOU ALWAYS]OR JUST ON THE OCCASITONS OF

—_——Ly

CHURCH A “TENDED

pie

8)

BAS TEN ANI TR/LY REPRESENTS THE MOST JOYOUS AND G]
—_—__
YEAR, BUT ESSENTIALL » Ce i MORE IMPORTANT THAN ANY OT!
—_
THE IS "HE LIVES" O ‘ALTH MUST GO DEEP INSIDE EACH
———— ——__
A LL VIOR 5 i ) I om | A .XS, A ib DID Fila

at US } NA! i. = ba ae ,
ey —_—_—erre
THERS IS SUCH THING AN HASTEN FAITH. THE RES UR
THE SOURCE 0 UR FAITH, f IT ALSO RUNS IN AND THROUGH &
eee
pa eae ——-=
ON OUR LIPS nae | IR MINUS, FROM HOUR TO HOUR AND VAY TC
———— —
s°
———, *

vie

VORLOUS OCCASION IN THE CHRISTIAN

HeECTL ON

i SUNDAY. IF WE TRULY MAN
ee
S OF US, IT MUST ACCOMPANY

—

MORNING WITH MARY: AND H&
pias
LY THIS MORNING. BUT ALWAYS ~
Se

* OUR LORD LS SURELY

VERYTIHING WE DO AS CHRISTIANS

L@DLY WITH HALLEJUH'S BUT LES?

HOUT THE YEAR. / MAY WE CARRY
JAY THE WO.DS THAT RANGE So

S NOT HERE**HE IS RISH.*
Z