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Easter Sunday

It is no overstatement to declare that today is the most important day in the Christian year, commemorating the most important day in human history. The Resurrection is the “Sine Qua Non” of the Christian faith, the “without which not,” meaning if you take away the Resurrection there is no reason for our faith. As the Apostle Paul wrote in 1 Corinthians:

“If there is no resurrection of the dead, then not even Christ has been raised. And if Christ has not been raised, our preaching is useless and so is your faith.”—1 Corinthians 15:13-14 (NIV)

But the message of today is that Christ has been raised. He is risen—he is risen indeed! Paul goes on to say:

“But Christ has indeed been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep. For since death came through a man, the resurrection of the dead comes also through a man. For as in Adam all die, so in Christ all will be made alive.”—1 Corinthians 15:20-22 (NIV)

Christ has indeed been raised from the dead, and because of that truth all will be made alive. That is what we celebrate today. The somberness of our Lenten journey gives way to a shout of victory, and the shadow of the cross gives way to the glorious light of Easter morn.

For today’s devotional we will be offering passages of Scripture followed by songs for worship and reflection. You’re invited to read each passage slowly and meditatively, paying attention to the movement of your soul. What moments in the story, or phrases from the different passages, resonate most with you? How would you have responded had you been there on that first Easter? How will you choose to respond today in prayer and gratitude?

You may wish to spread out these passages and songs through the day rather than reading and listening to them all at once. However you choose to spend time with God today, we pray this Scripture and music will encourage and bless you.

We begin at the garden early in the morning, as the women make their way to the tomb, leading us into a time of worship in response to what they discovered—the stone is rolled away! The tomb is empty!

He is risen! He is risen, indeed!

Scripture for Meditation:

When the sabbath was over, Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James, and Salome bought spices, so that they might go and anoint him. And very early on the first day of the week, when the sun had risen, they went to the tomb. They had been saying to one another, “Who will roll away the stone for us from the entrance to the tomb?”

When they looked up, they saw that the stone, which was very large, had already been rolled back. As they entered the tomb, they saw a young man, dressed in a white robe, sitting on the right side; and they were alarmed.

But he said to them, “Do not be alarmed; you are looking for Jesus of Nazareth, who was crucified. He has been raised; he is not here. Look, there is the place they laid him. But go, tell his disciples and Peter that he is going ahead of you to Galilee; there you will see him, just as he told you.”
—Mark 16:1-7 (NRSV)

Song: Is It All Over Now?

Just yesterday in our sorrow,
We tenderly buried the King like a beggar,
Now I despise His light in my eyes,
What has it all been for?
Where will I go?
And what will I do?
Is it all over now?
Why did He live?
And what did He die for?
Still I believe somehow
Last night, as I slept, thru the tears I had wept,
I remembered a curious promise.
What was it He said?
He would rise from the dead
What a desolate hope to cling to.
Where will I go?
And what will I do?
Is it all over now?
Why did He live?
And what did He die for?
Still I believe somehow, somehow
Early this morning, before the sun's dawning,
We came to take care of the body
Trembling with fear, our hope became clear,
As we looked in the empty tomb
How could it be?
And what does it mean?
We'd seen His body so lifeless
Now it is gone
My hope can live on
Jesus is really risen, He's risen

Michael Card
© 2012 Mole End Music

Scripture for Meditation:

So they left the tomb quickly with fear and great joy, and ran to tell his disciples. Suddenly Jesus met them and said, “Greetings!” And they came to him, took hold of his feet, and worshiped him. Then Jesus said to them, “Do not be afraid; go and tell my brothers to go to Galilee; there they will see me.”
—Matthew 28:8-10 (NRSV)

Song: Jesus Christ is Risen Today

Jesus Christ is ris'n today, Alleluia!
Our triumphant holy day, Alleluia!
Who did once, upon the cross, Alleluia!
Suffer to redeem our loss, Alleluia!
Hymns of praise then let us sing, Alleluia!
Unto Christ, our heav'nly King, Alleluia!
Who endured the cross and grave, Alleluia!
Sinners to redeem and save, Alleluia!
But the pains which He endured, Alleluia!
Our salvation have procured; Alleluia!
Now above the sky He's King, Alleluia!
Where the angels ever sing: Alleluia!
Sing we to our God above, Alleluia!
Praise eternal as His love, Alleluia!
Praise Him, all you heavenly host, Alleluia!
Father, Son, and Holy Ghost, Alleluia!

Samuel Arnold
© Words: Public Domain; Music: Public Domain

Scripture for Meditation:

When it was evening on that day, the first day of the week, and the doors were locked where the disciples were, for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you.” After he said this, he showed them his hands and his side. Then the disciples rejoiced when they saw the Lord. Jesus said to them again, “Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, so I send you.” When he had said this, he breathed on them and said to them, “Receive the Holy Spirit. If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them; if you retain the sins of any, they are retained.”
—John 20:19-23

Song: Crown Him With Many Crowns

Crown Him with many crowns
The Lamb upon His Throne
Hark how heavenly anthem drowns
All music but its own
Awake my soul and sing
Of Him Who died for thee
And hail Him as thy matchless King
Thru all eternity
Crown Him the Lord of Love
Behold His Hands and Side
Rich wounds yet visible above in beauty glorified
No angel in the sky
Can fully bear that sight
But downward bends His burning Eye
At mysteries so bright
Crown Him the Lord of Life
Who triumphed o'er the grave
Who rose victorious in the strife
For those He came to save
His Glories now we sing
Who died and rose on high
Who died eternal life to bring
And lives that death may die
Crown Him the Lord of Years
The Potentate of time
Creator of the rolling spheres
Ineffably Sublime
All hail Redeemer hail
For Thou hast died for me
Thy praise shall never never fail
Through all eternity

Scripture for Meditation:

What I am saying, brothers and sisters, is this: flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God, nor does the perishable inherit the imperishable. Listen, I will tell you a mystery! We will not all die, but we will all be changed, in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised imperishable, and we will be changed. For this perishable body must put on imperishability, and this mortal body must put on immortality. When this perishable body puts on imperishability, and this mortal body puts on immortality, then the saying that is written will be fulfilled:

“Death has been swallowed up in victory.
Where, O death, is your victory?Where, O death, is your sting?”

The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.
—1 Corinthians 15:50-57 (NRSV)

Song: I Will Rise

There's a peace I've come to know
Though my heart and flesh may fail
There's an anchor for my soul
I can say it is well
Jesus has overcome
And the grave is overwhelmed
The victory is won
He is risen from the dead
And I will rise when He calls my name
No more sorrow no more pain
I will rise on eagle's wings
Before my God fall on my knees
And rise I will rise
There's a day that's drawing near
When this darkness breaks to light
And the shadows disappear
And my faith shall be my eyes
Jesus has overcome
And the grave is overwhelmed
The victory is won
He is risen from the dead
And I will rise when He calls my name
No more sorrow no more pain
I will rise on eagle's wings
Before my God fall on my knees
And rise I will rise
And I hear the voice of many angels sing
Worthy is the Lamb
And I hear the cry of ev'ry longing heart
Worthy is the Lamb
And I will rise when He calls my name
No more sorrow no more pain
I will rise on eagle's wings
Before my God fall on my knees
And rise I will rise

Chris Tomlin | Jesse Reeves | Louie Giglio | Matt Maher
© 2008 Rising Springs Music; Vamos Publishing; worshiptogether.com songs; spiritandsong.com; Thankyou Music