Easter—the Christmas story continued
“Christ the Lord is ris’n today, Alleluia!
Sons of men and angels say, Alleluia!
Raise your joys and triumphs high, Alleluia!
Sing, ye heav’ns, and earth, reply, Alleluia!”
—Charles Wesley, 1739
This is a story for the ages. A baby is born fulfilling ancient prophecy. His purpose is not to save his people from cruel rulers but to pay the penalty for the sins of all mankind. Angels announce his birth; he is visited by humble shepherds and foreign dignitaries and targeted for death by a jealous ruling king. He escapes capture and lives abroad for a time, returning to his home country with his family to a small country town, and lives a quiet life—until the appointed time.
According to the story, he then defies Jewish tradition by teaching simple truth from God his father; he defies natural laws by walking on water, healing all manner of illness, even raising people from the dead. And he defies all logic by giving up his perfect life to die on a cross in the place of all other people. In response, the curtain separating man from God in the Holy of Holies in the temple is torn from the top to the bottom. The sun stops shining, darkening the world for three hours and the earth quakes splitting rocks and opening tombs, literally shaking back to life many dead holy people. Then the greatest defiance of all—HE rises from the dead! This is that baby in the manger, that Jesus born in Bethlehem, that Jesus of Nazareth who fed the people by the thousands with a few rolls of bread and fish. This is the Christ, the Son of God. And Easter is his story of resurrection and new life for all who believe.
But that isn’t the end of the story. That part, the rest of the story, is what we do with the first part of the story. For many, it is living out the truth that Jesus taught. Remembering Jesus’s story is a great place to begin. If you are a member of the Scandinavian American community, you might want to visit Mindekirken—the Norwegian Lutheran Memorial Church in Minneapolis. They hold services in both Norwegian and English and invite all to visit for services and special cultural events. See their Facebook page for video clips and news. For more information on Norwegian celebrations of Easter go here. The American Swedish Institute in Minneapolis sponsors holiday celebrations and cultural activities for children and adults to keep alive Swedish traditions. Explore their offerings here and for another local Scandinavian connection go to Ingebretsen’s Nordic Marketplace. For a German take on Easter, plan a visit to New Ulm. Many churches and the New Ulm Chamber of Commerce will host Easter egg hunts on March 31. For more information go here and more information about German Easter facts and traditions go here.
Christ the Lord is risen! Listen to 218 handbells agree as they play Easter Joy at the 2009 Blue Ridge Handbell Festival in Flat Rock, North Carolina. Christ is risen indeed! Happy Easter!
CREDIT: Geralt, pixabay
Zauberei, pixabay