Sunday is Coming!
/Greetings in the Name of the Risen Christ,
Easter is the day when the world turns to the church for a message of hope. This weekend, over one billion people around the world will worship in person or online to celebrate the Easter resurrection of our Lord. At Stonebridge UMC, we are making space for all of our members and guests by having two worship services, 9:45 am and 11:00 am.
As I send this email on Good Friday, I know Easter is coming. But for those first disciples Friday and Saturday were days of great grief, guilt, remorse, and regret. They had watched their Lord crucified on Friday. They must have been asking, “What will we do now? Our Master lies in a tomb.”
Each year, I try to put myself in the shoes of those disciples. As they went to bed on Saturday night, they had no idea they were about to experience the greatest world-changing event in history. In the Resurrection of the Christ, the past, present, and future would never be the same.
Frederick Buechner, in his book The Final Beast says, “The worst thing is never the last thing.” We know in the Easter victory that evil will not have the last word. Easter is the drama of life conquering death, light overcoming the darkness, and love vanquishing evil. Easter is the day when hope springs eternal!
Pastor S. M. Lockridge once shared these words in a famous Good Friday message.
"It’s Friday… Jesus is praying. Peter is sleeping. Judas is betraying. But Sunday’s comin’!
It’s Friday… The disciples are running. Mary’s crying. Peter is denying. But they don’t know that Sunday’s a comin’!
It’s Friday… The world’s winning. People are sinning. And evil’s grinning.
It’s Friday… The soldiers nail my Savior’s hands to the cross.
It’s Friday… The disciples are doubting. The Pharisees are celebrating. But they don’t know it’s only Friday… Sunday’s comin’!
It’s Friday… He’s hanging on the cross. Feeling forsaken by his Father. Left alone and dying. Can nobody save him? Ooooh it’s Friday but Sunday’s comin’!
It’s Friday… The earth trembles. The sky grows dark. My King yields his spirit.
It’s Friday… Hope is lost. Death has won. Sin has conquered. Satan’s just a laughin’.
It’s Friday… Jesus is buried… A soldier stands guard. And a rock is rolled into place.
But —It’s Friday; It’s only Friday, SUNDAY IS A COMIN’!"
As I wait for Easter Sunday, I know that Good Friday is never the end of the story. This weekend, join me in asking, “What difference does the Resurrection of Jesus mean for how I live my life?”
For me, it is to know, no matter what may come, my Savior lives. Jesus the Risen Savior is my hope and my promise for every day no matter what may come. Join me as we examine what it means to believe in the Resurrection of Jesus.
The worst thing is never the last thing. It’s Friday, but Sunday is coming!
See you Sunday! Invite someone to worship!
Pastor John Allen
Jesus said, “I am the resurrection and the life. Those who believe in me, even though they die, will live, andeveryone who lives and believes in me will never die. (John 11:25-26)