Easter
Matthew 28
1After the Sabbath, at dawn on the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to look at the tomb.
2There was a violent earthquake, for an angel of the Lord came down from heaven and, going to the tomb, rolled back the stone and sat on it. 3His appearance was like lightning, and his clothes were white as snow. 4The guards were so afraid of him that they shook and became like dead men.
5The angel said to the women, "Do not be afraid, for I know that you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified. 6He is not here; he has risen, just as he said. Come and see the place where he lay. 7Then go quickly and tell his disciples: ‘He has risen from the dead and is going ahead of you into Galilee. There you will see him.’ Now I have told you."
8So the women hurried away from the tomb, afraid yet filled with joy, and ran to tell his disciples. 9Suddenly Jesus met them. "Greetings," he said. They came to him, clasped his feet and worshiped him. 10Then Jesus said to them, "Do not be afraid. Go and tell my brothers to go to Galilee; there they will see me."
Easter reflections
A shot from my cell phone just before Saturday morning’s rehearsal.
Just some thoughts this Easter evening:
- The amount of work we put into producing this year’s Easter celebration was unparalleled. We scrapped lots of good creative ideas to birth a few great ones.
- I tweeted this earlier today but I could perform our Easter set 10 more times. Some of the most solid stuff we’ve ever done. Darel, one of our front of house guys, said to me after our 11am service, “that’s the best I’ve ever heard in all my time running sound here.”
- Our goal this year was to get the crowd participating. That happened in a big way but not in the ways we expected.
- That being said, to see the entire room on its feet during the chorus of I Will Rise during the 11am service shook me. I was singing lead and had to compose myself, while singing. I could have let go and lost it.
- One of Maryland’s fantastic volunteers, Eric, put together a two minute video to start our last song. He put 20 hours into it. That two minute media bit elevated that last big push to a new level. Well done my friend.
- Seeing people wipe their eyes after the intro video just drove home, again, why we do what we do. To make Him more famous.
- The breakfast spread put out for the crew today was the bomb diggity.
- When Vince dropped Hebrews 11:6 during his teaching today it impacted me like I’d never heard it before. George Michael said it best: “you gotta have faith.”
- During Amazing Grace (My Chains) I heard someone singing loud and proud, wildly out of key (I leave my in-ears out of one ear to constantly get a feel for the crowd). Then I realized it was our electric guitar player, positioned right behind me, worshiping. Made me smile.
- To quote my pal Jeff Gormong: “some churches will go their entire lives wishing they could experience, for just one day, what we get to experience daily.” Amen.
The King Kong Easter challenge
I’m gonna (try to) keep this short and sweet.
Easter is a mere eight days away. Can you believe it? Eight days.
Here’s your challenge. Ready?
Take someone to church with you on Easter who doesn’t go to church.
If you don’t know someone who doesn’t go to a church or your church, you’ve got bigger problems.
I know. You already had plans to dress your family up in pastel colors and have a nice family lunch after church.
Scrap those plans.
First, pray. Then pray some more. And don’t forget to pray. Ok…
One person.
Friend.
Family member.
Colleague.
Co-worker.
Or better yet. A total stranger.
Christians are different. This Jesus we follow was a rebel. He turned our world on its ear. We’ve done a crappy job showing people who He is.
Break the mold society has poured us into.
No. Don’t break it. Shatter it. Obliterate it. Smash it like you’re King Kong.
Offer to give them a ride to your Easter gathering.
Offer to take them out to lunch after your Easter gathering.
Offer to do your best to answer their questions.
And don’t forget to offer to take them to church again the following Sunday.
Post up your play by play in the comments.
How many say, “no.”
How many say, “yes.”
How many say, “yes,” after you up the offer to a steak and potato meal (your treat).
You can do this. Be King Kong.