{"id":29,"date":"2010-02-27T12:39:00","date_gmt":"2010-02-27T18:39:00","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.messy-spirituality.com\/wordpress\/2010\/02\/27\/a-new-thought-for-easter\/"},"modified":"2010-02-27T12:39:00","modified_gmt":"2010-02-27T18:39:00","slug":"a-new-thought-for-easter","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.messy-spirituality.com\/wordpress\/2010\/02\/27\/a-new-thought-for-easter\/","title":{"rendered":"A new thought for Easter"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Christmas has always been my most favorite time of the year. When I was a child, yes, it was about presents and Santa. My family did not go to church ever, so Christmas to me was the snow, the decorations, presents and Santa. As I gained a greater understanding of our Savior, Christmas had a much different and deeper meaning.<\/p>\n

So, what is all this talk about Christmas, when the title is \u201cA new thought about Easter\u201d? Don\u2019t get me wrong about Christmas, it is very important, but Easter to me is far more important. Easter is culmination of a great promise of the Love that God has for us. It is the icing on the cake, the cake that only God can offer his children. John 3:16 \u201cFor God so loved the world, that he gave his one and only son, so that whoever believes in hi m shall not perish but have eternal life.\u201d God has always been about Love, relationship and fellowship. He makes us righteous through his son, and to fulfill his want for a complete and full relationship with us, he Son rises after death. This is the hope that is given us.
We cannot have Easter without Christmas, but without Easter, we cannot be in heaven and be with our heavenly father. To be in heaven, and have the comfort knowing that no matter what, we too will conquer death and will spend eternity in perfect bodies, with the most perfect of all, God himself. I really just cannot think of a greater gift than the gift of perfection, eternal life and a perfect, lovingly, forever relationship with our God in heaven. When things seem their darkest, can we look to the manger? Sure, does it point the way to our final destination? What about looking at Easter in our times of trouble? Doesn\u2019t it all come down to the end, or is that really the beginning?<\/p>\n

It is not required that we are to worship on Sunday, nor are held by the Old Testament to worship our God on the Sabbath day, which for the Jews is Saturday. However, there is some reasoning and biblical truth to gathering for worship, teaching and preaching on Sunday, the first day of the week. Jesus was raised from the dead on the first day of the week, Sunday. Matthew 28:1 \u201cAfter the Sabbath, at dawn on the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to look at the tomb.\u201d Matthew 28:5-6a \u201c5The angel said to the women, \u201cDo 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.\u201c<\/p>\n

There is evidence that the early Christian Church also worshiped on Sunday. Acts 20:7a \u201cOn the first day of the week we came together to break bread. Paul spoke to the people\u201d. When Paul wanted to collect monies from the church in Cornith, he did so on Sunday. 1 Corinthians 16:2 \u201cOn the first day of every week, each one of you should set aside a sum of money in keeping with your income, saving it up, so that when I come no collections will have to be made. \u201c<\/p>\n

After Jesus\u2019s resurrection, he makes appearances on Sunday. John 20:26 \u201cA week later his disciples were in the house again, and Thomas was with them. Though the doors were locked, Jesus came and stood among them and said, \u2018Peace be with you!\u2019 \u201d Revelation 1:12, 17-18a \u201c12On the Lord\u2019s Day I was in the Spirit, and I heard behind me a loud voice like a trumpet\u202617When I saw him, I fell at his feet as though dead. Then he placed his right hand on me and said: \u201cDo not be afraid. I am the First and the Last. 18I am the Living One; I was dead, and now look, I am alive forever and ever! \u201c \u201c<\/p>\n

What a gift indeed God has given us. A new life, perfect in every way, to be spent with Him forever. What a gift in that his resurrection was on a Sunday, and we can celebrate Jesus\u2019 resurrection and God\u2019s gift each and every Sunday.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Christmas has always been my most favorite time of the year. When I was a child, yes, it was about presents and Santa. My family did not go to church ever, so Christmas to me was the snow, the decorations, presents and Santa. As I gained a greater understanding of our Savior, Christmas had a … [Read more…]<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_crdt_document":"","_exactmetrics_skip_tracking":false,"_exactmetrics_sitenote_active":false,"_exactmetrics_sitenote_note":"","_exactmetrics_sitenote_category":0,"_uf_show_specific_survey":0,"_uf_disable_surveys":false,"advanced_seo_description":"","jetpack_seo_html_title":"","jetpack_seo_noindex":false,"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":false,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2}},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":{"0":"entry","1":"post","2":"publish","3":"author-admin","4":"post-29","6":"format-standard","7":"category-uncategorized"},"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p2m6h5-t","jetpack_likes_enabled":true,"jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":1508,"url":"https:\/\/www.messy-spirituality.com\/wordpress\/2016\/03\/27\/easter-message\/","url_meta":{"origin":29,"position":0},"title":"Easter Message","author":"Douglas Dill","date":"March 27, 2016","format":false,"excerpt":"Easter is a special time of the year.\u00a0 I use to put the emphasis on Christmas, and yes I realize that there is no Easter without Christmas, however Easter is the ALL of the Christian message. Easter is what God does for us out of God\u2019s love for us.\u00a0 Easter\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Easter"","block_context":{"text":"Easter","link":"https:\/\/www.messy-spirituality.com\/wordpress\/category\/easter\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":57,"url":"https:\/\/www.messy-spirituality.com\/wordpress\/2011\/11\/30\/giving-and-receiving\/","url_meta":{"origin":29,"position":1},"title":"Giving and Receiving","author":"Douglas Dill","date":"November 30, 2011","format":false,"excerpt":"Many of us have heard that it is better to give than to receive. \u00a0Advent is the awaiting of a gift from God, in his Son Jesus Christ. \u00a0As we await this gift, we also await another gift, the one of salvation that comes apparent at Easter. \u00a0Yes, I know\u2026","rel":"","context":"Similar post","block_context":{"text":"Similar post","link":""},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":2137,"url":"https:\/\/www.messy-spirituality.com\/wordpress\/2018\/12\/25\/the-gift\/","url_meta":{"origin":29,"position":2},"title":"The Gift","author":"Douglas Dill","date":"December 25, 2018","format":false,"excerpt":"Christmas Eve Worship 2018Isaiah 9:2\u20137Titus 2:11\u201314Luke 2:1\u201320 https:\/\/youtu.be\/7S6oqrIenpc","rel":"","context":"In "Christ"","block_context":{"text":"Christ","link":"https:\/\/www.messy-spirituality.com\/wordpress\/category\/christ\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/img.youtube.com\/vi\/7S6oqrIenpc\/0.jpg?resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":2813,"url":"https:\/\/www.messy-spirituality.com\/wordpress\/2022\/04\/19\/easter-new-creation-in-words-and-action\/","url_meta":{"origin":29,"position":3},"title":"Easter, New Creation in Words and Action","author":"Douglas Dill","date":"April 19, 2022","format":false,"excerpt":"April 17th, 2022Easter Psalm 118:21\u201329 NIVJohn 20:1-18 NIV https:\/\/youtu.be\/jxZYBbt_tog?t=851","rel":"","context":"In "Death"","block_context":{"text":"Death","link":"https:\/\/www.messy-spirituality.com\/wordpress\/category\/death\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":3192,"url":"https:\/\/www.messy-spirituality.com\/wordpress\/2024\/04\/02\/easter-vigil-2024\/","url_meta":{"origin":29,"position":4},"title":"Easter Vigil 2024","author":"Douglas Dill","date":"April 2, 2024","format":false,"excerpt":"3\/20\/2024 GENESIS 1:1-2:4 (NRSV)JONAH 2:2-9 (NRSV)EZEKIEL 37:1-14 (NRSV)ISAIAH 61:1-4, 9-11 (NRSV)JOHN 20:1-18 (NRSV) Sermon Full Service","rel":"","context":"In "Baptism"","block_context":{"text":"Baptism","link":"https:\/\/www.messy-spirituality.com\/wordpress\/category\/baptism\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":1804,"url":"https:\/\/www.messy-spirituality.com\/wordpress\/2017\/04\/20\/easter-sermon-2017\/","url_meta":{"origin":29,"position":5},"title":"Easter Sermon 2017","author":"Douglas Dill","date":"April 20, 2017","format":false,"excerpt":"Easter morning sermon at First Lutheran Church, South Sioux City NE First Reading: Acts 10:34-43 (NRSV) Second Reading: Colossians 3:1-4 (NRSV) Gospel: Matthew 28:1-10 (NRSV) Psalm 118:1-2, 14-24 (NRSV) For an audio version only, click here. https:\/\/youtu.be\/ln2KUZZijDg","rel":"","context":"In "Christ"","block_context":{"text":"Christ","link":"https:\/\/www.messy-spirituality.com\/wordpress\/category\/christ\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/img.youtube.com\/vi\/ln2KUZZijDg\/0.jpg?resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]}],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.messy-spirituality.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/29","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.messy-spirituality.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.messy-spirituality.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.messy-spirituality.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.messy-spirituality.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=29"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.messy-spirituality.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/29\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.messy-spirituality.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=29"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.messy-spirituality.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=29"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.messy-spirituality.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=29"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}