Waiting for Easter

— Midweek Meditations:
thoughts, inspiration and encouragement
from ACF community members —

The season of Easter for me, more than Advent or Christmas, is about waiting. Waiting for that transcendent first light of dawn to break on the horizon, or even while it is still dark, I am already imagining Jesus bursting from the tomb and I can barely sleep. You can ask my family, it’s the one day of the year when I absolutely leap out of bed.

Easter is about Him ushering in a brand new world, where death is overcome, where we have a chance to be reconciled to the One who made us; everything looks new and is saturated in astounding hope. The exhilaration of Easter Sunday gives us a foretaste of what is to come.

No eye has seen,
no ear has heard,
no mind has conceived,
what God has prepared for those who love Him.”

I Corinthians 2:9

Yet Easter is also reminiscent of the fact that we are still citizens of this earth, or as Bishop Robert Innes wrote, “we are an Easter people, in a Good Friday world.” We have to adjust to the disappointments, the setbacks, the tragedies, illnesses and inevitable physical death which define our lives as humans. Life is often bleak and there is an awful lot to endure. Still we believe that one day all will be put right, that the conquering power of Easter will one day be the universal condition.

If you look closely at the image above from a 16^th century painting which hangs in the Kunsthaus in Zurich, Jesus seems to regard the viewer with astonishing recognition and acceptance of where He is headed. His purpose is clear, He is on His way to save us and He carries His cross with serenity and determination. Jesus seems to be communicating, “Just wait, the night is nearly over and I am with you”.

The time has come

The wait is over

The king is here

And His name is Jesus

This is love

Bending skies to heal the broken 

This is love

Bleeding life into the grave

Hear the sound

As our hearts cry out forever 

Singing hallelujah

Breathing in a brand new world

Empires by Hillsong United

Dear Lord,

As we wait for Easter morning, make real to us already now that promise of hope beyond hope, knowing that You are alive and have conquered the grave.

Enable us to breathe in a brand new world, washed in Your grace and love.

In Jesus’ name, Amen

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The ACF Midweek Meditations
are written by a diverse group of our church members with the intention to seek God’s fingerprints in our lives. They range from somber to humorous and are inspired by all facets of live and faith. Written by ordinary people from all walks of life, they reflect a wide range of Christian backgrounds and spiritualities.

Each week’s text portrays the individual viewpoint of its author. They might not always resonate with everyone, and are not meant to be understood as representing the Anglican Church Freiburg as a whole. Yet, as a church that is aiming to ‘Build a Community of Grace’ we seek to practice learning from and listening to one another.

We pray that these humble ponderings add a small spark of blessing to your week.

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