Quarantine Chronicles Devotion #2 (Easter Edition)

Maybe what we need is a fresh look at Calvary. It is so easy in our Christian lives to either 1) take advantage of God’s grace and neglect it or 2) get used to basking in grace’s glorious light that we forget its cost. It cost Jesus everything. The trinity was split for the first time in eternity at that moment. (Matt. 27:46.) Just think about that for a moment – the Godhead was willingly split (John 10:17-18) so that Jesus could bear all our sin and atone for it.  But here’s the kicker; He didn’t have to, but he chose to. And He chose me. And you. God didn’t have to design the world the way He did, but this is the plan that He chose for salvation. I can’t understand that, but I’m thankful that God loves us so much that He created a way of escape for us (Eph. 2:8-9)

We need to be reminded that Easter is not about materialistic things, but rather the empty tomb. Without it, we could not possibly have any hope. The resurrection is what’s sometimes called the hinge pin of Christianity – if you can disprove it, then everything else falls apart (because Jesus would be a liar and not God, but rather just another good man.)

It’s time to focus on what’s important. This quarantine has taken away a lot of things we never thought we’d lose. But here we are. You don’t realize that Jesus is all you need until He is all you have. And our nation and the world have found ourselves there – with only Jesus to look to. We might have lost our focus, and now is a great time to get it back. Let’s get a clearer image of the cross. Let’s take time to reflect on what Calvary really meant, and then we can begin to understand the significance of the empty tomb.

One of my friends says that she wears her jeans to church to focus on what’s important. She doesn’t have to worry about what she looks like, if this or that is slipping. She can be comfortable to haul the kids in the car and focus on the Word. This Sunday, as many of us will be hauling to the living room to watch a church livestream (can I get an amen for technology?), will we take the opportunity this “stripped down” Easter to focus on what’s important? Take away the baskets, eggs, and fancy clothes. What do you have left? The fact that He is Risen!

He is Risen, Indeed.

To supplement your worship this Easter Sunday, I have compiled a playlist of music focused on the death, burial and resurrection. I hope it turns your heart to God and helps you worship and celebrate His marvelous works and all He has done (Matt. 28:6.) Check it out here.