The Resurrection Isn’t Over 

Hey, not so fast. Although the Easter holiday is past, the resurrection is not.  

After his suffering, he presented himself to them and gave many convincing proofs that he was alive. He appeared to them over a period of forty days and spoke about the kingdom of God.” Acts 1:3 NIV

Sometimes the best time to really celebrate a holiday is after it’s over. After the hoopla is packed up, stored away and the leftovers are gone, there is time to linger.   

Jesus’ last words on the cross declared, “It is finished.” He paid the debt, conquered sin and death. Done. Accomplished. Complete. 

And yet, after rising from the dead He came back for 40 days and lingered with those He’d served during His earthly life. His lingering was an act of love which set the course, purpose and mission of His church.  

Fear, dread, doubt and despair put the disciples in a lock down after Jesus’ death. The kind of shut in that agonized with grief and disappointment. The type that looked deep inside their beings and recognized failure and denial of the Christ they had proclaimed. Their abandonment of the Messiah must have filled them with regret and shame. Sorrow and disbelief, uncertainty and confusion mixed in their souls. 

What had just happened and how could it have? 

Photo by Sylvia Schroeder

And then Jesus walked through their locked doors.

On the evening of that first day of the week, when the disciples were together, with the doors locked for fear of the Jewish leaders, Jesus came and stood among them and said, ‘Peace be with you!’” Jn. 20:19 NIV

Only Thomas wasn’t there. 

A week later his disciples were in the house again, and Thomas was with them. Though the doors were locked, Jesus came and stood among them and said, ‘Peace be with you!’” John 20:26 NIV

Eight days later, behind locked doors, Jesus met Thomas. “Touch me and see. Don’t disbelieve, but believe,” Jesus invited.  

At some point in our lives a distinct meeting must occur with the resurrected Christ, a face to face with who He is and what that means. A decision, a touching of hands and side, like Thomas. A declaration of Peter’s magnitude to Jesus’ question, “Do you love me more than these?” An embrace of the entire gospel like the two on the road to Emmaus, “our hearts burned within us.” 

There must be a death for resurrection to occur.  

When you were dead in your sins and in the uncircumcision of your flesh, God made you alive with Christ. He forgave us all our sins, having canceled the charge of our legal indebtedness, which stood against us and condemned us; he has taken it away, nailing it to the cross.  Col. 2:13-14 NIV

“But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions—it is by grace you have been saved. And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus.” Eph. 2:4-6 NIV

We were therefore buried with him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life. For if we have been united with him in a death like his, we will certainly also be united with him in a resurrection like his.” Romans 6:4-5 NIV

Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God.”  Col. 3:1-3 NIV

In the year 2020 and into 2021, our entire world spent a lot of time behind closed doors, from Easter to Easter. We’ve tasted the bitterness of death’s reality. We’ve faced fear. We’ve closed and barred doors. But, as the disciples discovered, closed doors don’t deter a risen Savior.   

This year we celebrated Jesus’ resurrection on April 4. Forty days after is May 14, more than a month. Extraordinary in every way, Jesus breathed again, walked with his followers, appeared and disappeared, taught Scriptures, gave a commission to proclaim Him and promised a Helper. He brought us up from death to life. There is so much to linger over. 

I want Jesus to walk through every one of my closed doors. Even one’s I don’t know are closed. I want to linger with Him, to converse as the two on the road to Emmaus, to grapple with my love for him like Peter and expel all fear and doubt from my heart like Thomas.     

For every door barred and locked, Jesus holds the key, and He delights in lingering together. 

The Easter Holiday is over, but our resurrection to new life is not.  

 

*feature Photo by Philip Schroeder on Unsplash

11 Replies

  1. Rebecca Powell Reply

    Christ is risen! He is risen indeed! Hallelujah!
    Thank you for sharing this important message of Christ’s death and resurrection.

    • Sylvia Schroeder Reply

      Thanks Rebecca! I’m honored you read it and commented! He is risen indeed!

  2. Nancy Reply

    Thank you, Sylvia, for this after Easter perspective. I want to linger with Jesus and let him come through my closed doors! I let lent just pass through without much reflection, but now I hope to consciously linger for these 40 days. May I have ears and heart to hear as He speaks to me of His kingdom!
    🌷✝️🌷
    Nancy

    • Sylvia Schroeder Reply

      Thanks Nancy. I am far too much a Martha and not enough a Mary. Sitting at His feet is a lovely way to linger. May we both find ourselves there! Thanks friend!

  3. Beth Menezes Reply

    Thank you Sylvia!
    Very profound reflections that meet us where our soul yearns for more..! Lingering…
    lingering over the power of Jesus to give His life in death and to arise …. His power that I need to live,
    here… and hereafter..

    • Sylvia Schroeder Reply

      Yes and amen! His power has amazed me through this season. It is a great place to linger. I need His power daily. Appreciate it Beth!!

  4. Charles Felton Reply

    Thank you for reminding us that Easter is a continuing event.

    • Sylvia Schroeder Reply

      Thanks Charles. It was a needed reminder for myself! Appreciate you reading and commenting!

  5. J.D. Wininger Reply

    What a sweet, encouraging, and grace-filled blessing you shared this week Ms. Sylvia. I needed this reminder today; my Savior is risen. He is alive and well and with me each day. God’s blessings ma’am. I need to go praise Him now.

    • Sylvia Schroeder Reply

      Thanks J.D. It is such an amazing thing to know His presence is constant. Appreciate so much your comment!

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