Blessings to everyone this Easter! May we remember the suffering on the cross is a demonstration of the extent of God’s love, but never forget that His desire to share His joy with us forever was the purpose.
I cannot tell you how many Easter sermons I’ve heard about everything Jesus went through and what the cross was like. I’ve heard pastors go into detail about the size of Roman spikes and what they actually physically would have done. I understand exactly how crucifixion kills a person (if you can stomach it, here’s a link: https://lnkd.in/gdMjvPAb).
It’s incredibly important to understand that side of Easter because it shows just how much Jesus was willing to endure for our sake. But I always feel it falls flat if the message of Easter is hope, because it doesn’t say anything about the vision God has for His kids.
So, let me tell you about it.
Jesus went through what most would see as unbearable pain because He wanted an eternity where we didn’t have any. He imagined laughter and dancing and jokes and enjoying infinite good things. He saw in His mind the way it would be if people could be free.
So free all you can do is cry because you are happy.
So free you have more energy than you know what to do with (yet can always find an outlet, because He keeps offering them).
So free you don’t know what it’s like to go after anything just because you’re scared or obligated anymore.
It always feels like you just got tickled, both in your body and your soul.
Please don’t forget Jesus laughed. If you forget that, you can forget how much He went through so you can, too. Yes, He has every power under the authority He’s given. But picture Him up on Mary’s lap being goofy. That’s who He is. He never stopped being that.
The cross was the path. But joy is the point.