Easter Season Worship

All too often we observe Lent and celebrate Jesus’ resurrection on Easter Sunday as the completion of our faith. Christ is risen from the tomb, we are joyful in our worship, and then we head out for a spring break vacation.

That’s hardly what was happening in scripture. The season between Easter Sunday and Pentecost was filled with outrageous transformation for the disciples.
Matthew 28:8-10 (NIV)  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."
There is so much intensity to those verses! The women who first saw Jesus fell prostrate at his feet, not wanting to lose Him again. Their hearts responded in worship of Him, even though they didn’t understand what was happening.
Amidst their overwhelming grief, the disciples were fearful. They had just witnessed a murderous mob and Jesus’ brutal death on the cross. That same demise was awaiting the disciples should they be associated with Jesus. While fearful in their physical surroundings, they also feared God as they denied knowing Him.
Luke 24:11 (NIV) 11But they did not believe the women, because their words seemed to them like nonsense.

Try to imagine the sense of betrayal the disciples were experiencing. Each man left all he had to follow Jesus for three years, believing that He was the Son of God. Yet, when the time came, the King of all Creation seemingly did nothing to save Himself from the humiliation of the cross. As far as the disciples could see, He left them abandoned and in grave danger. Life as they knew it was disastrously altered. Not only that, but it was one of their own that turned Jesus over to Pilate’s soldiers! How could they even trust each other? Amazingly, this was the group that Jesus chose to establish the early Church, proclaiming the gospel throughout the world!
Matthew 28:16-17 (NIV)  16Then the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain where Jesus had told them to go. 17When they saw him, they worshiped him; but some doubted.
It was during this time that the disciples were healing. Jesus had the opportunity to minister to each one individually and corporately. Notice that the disciples did not stop their worship of Jesus when they encountered Him. Although the disciples were unsure of the past, present and future, their hearts responded to the sight of Jesus by worshiping Him.

Peter was redeemed for denying Jesus and became the Rock of the church, just as Thomas was also redeemed for his unbelief. Solidarity among the group was re-established and training in the meaning of the gospel intensified. The group was being equipped for ministry.
Luke 24:44-53 (NIV) 44He said to them, "This is what I told you while I was still with you: Everything must be fulfilled that is written about me in the Law of Moses, the Prophets and the Psalms."
 45Then he opened their minds so they could understand the Scriptures. 46He told them, "This is what is written: The Christ will suffer and rise from the dead on the third day, 47and repentance and forgiveness of sins will be preached in his name to all nations, beginning at Jerusalem. 48You are witnesses of these things. 49I am going to send you what my Father has promised; but stay in the city until you have been clothed with power from on high."
 50When he had led them out to the vicinity of Bethany, he lifted up his hands and blessed them. 51While he was blessing them, he left them and was taken up into heaven. 52Then they worshiped him and returned to Jerusalem with great joy. 53And they stayed continually at the temple, praising God.
The gospel of Luke ends with quite a different vision of the disciples than on Easter morning. Joyful praise and submission to God’s plan replaced the fear and hiding that had seized them in prior weeks. In the temple, the disciples had the opportunity to thank God for all He had done, to restore themselves individually and corporately, and prepare for the coming of the Holy Spirit.
We all have experienced events that have shaken the foundation of what we understood as truth. We have suffered intensely as our illusions have been shattered. Just like the disciples, however, some of that confusion was derived from a poor understanding of who God is and who He longs to be for us. In times of devastation, He is not absent, merely awaiting the chance to usher us into a greater depth of His love and mercy, to fulfill the purposes He has predestined for us.
This Easter season, continue to meditate on the reality of the gospel and what the gift of the Holy Spirit means for your life. Open the depths of your heart, your wounds, your pride, your needs, and let Jesus minister to them like He did for the disciples. Rejoice in worship with your brothers and sisters in Christ with an unprecedented spirit of humility. Prepare your heart in anticipation of the coming Pentecost worship, where the gift of the Holy Spirit and the true completion of our faith reside.
Dear Heavenly Father, So often I rush through seasons barely pausing to reflect on the power of Your throne and the endless mercy of Your love. You desire me to soak in Your presence, that my every pore may seep with the fragrance of Your touch. It is with this attention I turn to Your word this Easter season. Reveal to me what You would have for my heart, my relationships, my life and Your Church. I humbly bow before You and offer all I am in worship. In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen.