I have had some challenging Easters since turning to Christ. Once when approaching my church for the big morning, a tire blew out. Fortunately I was only two blocks away, and I drove super slow. After the service and special fellowship time was over, our head pastor volunteered to change my tire. The students in the church became quite entertained by the event and were lively spectators and commentators. Though I ended up having to buy two new tires, I savored the blessing of the enthusiastic students.
Another challenging Easter was when I was away from my home doing college ministry work in 2015. The church was jam packed, and I sat with my friends in a pew where everyone was shoulder to shoulder. Being on the far left of my friends, to my left was a woman and her husband in their early twenties, whom I had never seen in church. During the sermon, the man started massaging his wife’s back. I was trying to pay attention to Pastor Eric, but it was totally distracting to have the woman next to me getting a back massage by her husband inches away from me. Honestly, being single is a tough calling, and in my experience some folks in churches only make it tougher.
Then there was the Easter when I got a virus. (This was a few years ago, and though nasty, it did not compare to the current dangerous coronavirus.) My housemate got sick in late February which resulted in him getting laryngitis, and he remained sick for several weeks. (But he did not go to the doctor that entire time.) Just as he was recovering, I got sick. It was the Wednesday before Easter, and I immediately called my doctor, hoping it was a bacterial infection so I could get on antibiotics immediately. But my doctor diagnosed me with a virus, and said there was nothing she could give me. I had to miss Easter service. (I am a longtime advocate that anytime you are sick, out of loving consideration to others and yourself, you should refrain from church and spend some time personally with God.) I was really disappointed. I wanted so much to be with my brothers and sisters in Christ on the most important Christian church day of the year. Yet that Sunday morning I worshiped God in my room, knowing Jesus is resurrected, and gaining a peace which passes understanding.
Easter of 2020 may appear to be thwarted because of the coronavirus pandemic catastrophe. In most cases throughout the entire world, churches will be, or should be, locked. Easter services for many Christians in the world will be electronic. Easter services for some Christians in the world will not happen.
I will be doing what I do most every morning. With only God and me in my room, I will read a passage from my Bible, study the passage, ponder the message, pray, and sing a hymn, all aspects of worshiping God. Key is the fact I will not be alone. God is with me daily. I know that this Sunday, like every day, I can celebrate that my Savior and Lord, Jesus, is risen from the dead.
Yes I would give the world if I could worship with people and preach an Easter sermon this Sunday. On March 29th I was supposed to offer a sermon as part of a preliminary pastor interview process, but it was indefinitely postponed. Now I can only wait until an unknown date. And the sermon I prepared for that cancelled service would be ideal for Easter. But on Easter I will remain unemployed, churchless, and without an opportunity to offer my sermon. Yet I will have love.
In nearly 30 years of following Jesus, I have had countless disappointments and I still have plenty of regrets. Yet daily, I have had the love of Jesus. And daily, it has been possible for me to celebrate in my heart the resurrection of Jesus. Having a loving relationship with Jesus, the One who died on a cross as the substitute for sins to save us from spiritual death, results in eternal life in heaven with Him in the future, and results in hope in our days in this world.
Recognizing we are all hurt to some degree by this coronavirus tragedy which is bringing much suffering worldwide, I can still proclaim that you can have a blessed Easter wherever you are, if you rest in the love of Jesus.
Hunter
