A Resurrection Day Reflection by Lisa Burkhardt Worley, D.Min.
But God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us (Romans 5:8).
As I write this, my husband and I are on our way to Washington, D.C., where our grandson will participate in the Easter Egg Roll at the White House. It’s a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, and we are grateful to our youngest son and his fiancée for making this happen.
However, for me, Easter is not about bunnies and eggs. It’s about humility, mercy, and grace. Every Resurrection Day, I think about the humble sacrifice Jesus made for mankind, and like the Apostle Paul, I believe “Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners—of whom I am the worst.” I don’t just thank Jesus for salvation. I thank him for his grace and mercy on my life almost every day.
Growing up as a fatherless child with a mother who struggled, I know God rescued me in high school when a friend led me in a sinner’s prayer to receive Christ as my Savior. After that, my friend took me to church with her family every Sunday. It was the greatest gift I have ever received.
After falling away from the faith in college, I knew where to return in my thirties when I rededicated my life. From then on, I tried to follow the Lord in all aspects of my life and listen for His counsel. It has been an honor to serve the Lord in full-time ministry for the past 20 years.
I occasionally think about where I would be without Jesus, and I cringe. Christ went to the cross not only to save us, but so we could enter the presence of God the Father. Before Jesus’s sacrifice, only the High Priest could enter the Holy of Holies, where the Father resided. Now, thanks to the shed blood of Jesus on the cross, we have direct access through worship and prayer. Psalm 100:4 says, “Enter into his gates with thanksgiving, and into his courts with praise: be thankful unto him, and bless his name.” We should desire to return to an attitude of awe and thankfulness as we walk through God’s door.
What does the cross represent for you? How do you celebrate Easter? For me, the egg hunts and goodie baskets are fun, but remembering what Jesus did for me outweighs anything else.
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