The Smile of Hope
The Smile of Hope
20 Now on the first
day of the week Mary Magdalene came to the tomb early, while it was still dark,
and saw that the stone had been taken away from the tomb. 2 So
she ran and went to Simon Peter and the other disciple, the one whom Jesus
loved, and said to them, “They have taken the Lord out of the tomb, and we do
not know where they have laid him.” 3 So
Peter went out with the other disciple, and they were going toward the tomb.
4 Both of them were running together, but the
other disciple outran Peter and reached the tomb first. 5 And stooping to look in, he saw the linen cloths
lying there, but he did not go in. 6 Then
Simon Peter came, following him, and went into the tomb. He saw the linen
cloths lying there, 7 and the face
cloth, which had been on Jesus' head, not lying with the linen cloths but
folded up in a place by itself. 8 Then
the other disciple, who had reached the tomb first, also went in, and he saw
and believed; (John 20:1-8 ESV®)
As winter seems to hang on, I start looking
for any sign of spring. One of the first signs I would watch for is the crocuses.
No matter how harsh the weather may seem, their petals open to the elements
braving the cold and wet. This has been my good news that spring is on the way,
I smile. With the sight of the crocuses, I am assured that spring and summer
will arrive. When fall comes again and the trees lose their leaves, I remember
the crocuses and their announcement of spring, I smile.
Like the crocuses warm me with their
arrival, the sight of the empty tomb lite the flame of hope in the disciples.
Jesus’ words and works came to their minds and they believed.
Each year as I celebrate Easter, I am
reminded of the blood stained cross, the empty tomb and the risen Jesus, I
smile. Easter warms my heart as I think about Jesus’ promise of forgiveness and
His return to gather His church to be with Him forever. The empty tomb is a
promise that never fails and does not appear only once a year. Jesus’s
salvation is forever and does not wilt. When life’s grueling saturations dim my
world, the cross and empty tomb remind me I have a Savior that will never leave
me, I smile. Greater is the promise of the empty tomb than that of the
crocuses.
.
The same promise from the empty tomb is
there for you. Celebrate Easter and smile!
Wess Mechler – Jesus
is Alive!
ESV® - The Holy Bible,
English Standard Version Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a division of
Good News Publishers. All rights reserved.
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