He is Risen Indeed!

For your daily dose of cuteness, I offer this picture of Abby looking oh-so-adorable in her Easter dress.

I have no trouble admitting that I thoroughly enjoyed getting her all dressed up in the beautiful dress her Nana made for her and watching her play with the Easter basket her Mimi and Papa sent to her. But as we sat in the front row at church this morning (the only seat left when you arrive late for the busiest service of the year) I realized that it's far too easy for me to celebrate this holiday without truly celebrating what this day is about. It will be even easier as Abby gets older to get caught up in Easter egg hunts and Easter baskets and Easter dresses. And while there's nothing wrong with these things, they do fail miserably at getting to the heart of the matter of what this day really means.

As for me and my house, this day means everything. If this day is only about bunnies and baskets, our whole life is a sham. But this day is about a risen Savior--our risen Savior, the one who was God in the flesh, born of a miraculous birth, who lived a perfect life, who died a shameful death, who conquered the grave when He rose from the dead, and who did it all because He loved us. And what greater love is there than this? He loved me before the foundation of the world. Even before "let there be light," there was this great love, and the knowledge that one day a spotless lamb would be slain so that I might not be eternally separated from the One who knit me together in my mother's womb.

But the good news of this day is that the story didn't end when that lamb was raised up on a Roman cross and left to die. No, I celebrate this day because His death was the sacrifice necessary to pay for my sins, and in taking our sin upon Himself, he paved a way to eternal life for all those who would believe. I celebrate this day because when Christ rose from the dead, it was an action that defied belief and demanded a response. I celebrate this day because He has given me eyes to see and the faith to believe in His life, death and resurrection, and to respond with humble thanksgiving.

On the inside of our wedding bands, Justin and I had a reminder inscribed for ourselves: Micah 4:5, which reads "As for us, we will walk in the name of the Lord our God forever." These are no mere words, but a humble reminder of whose we are and who we serve: the risen Savior, Christ the Lord. Happy Easter!

Christ, the Lord, is risen today, Alleluia! Sons of men and angels say, Alleluia!
Raise your joys and triumphs high, Alleluia! Sing, ye heavens, and earth, reply, Alleluia!
Love’s redeeming work is done, Alleluia! Fought the fight, the battle won, Alleluia!
Lo! the Sun’s eclipse is over, Alleluia! Lo! He sets in blood no more, Alleluia!
Vain the stone, the watch, the seal, Alleluia! Christ hath burst the gates of hell, Alleluia!
Death in vain forbids His rise, Alleluia! Christ hath opened paradise, Alleluia!
Lives again our glorious King, Alleluia! Where, O death, is now thy sting? Alleluia!
Once He died our souls to save, Alleluia! Where thy victory, O grave? Alleluia!
Soar we now where Christ hath led, Alleluia! Following our exalted Head, Alleluia!
Made like Him, like Him we rise, Alleluia! Ours the cross, the grave, the skies, Alleluia!
Hymns of praise then let us sing, Alleluia! Unto Christ, our heavenly King, Alleluia!
Who endured the cross and grave, Alleluia! Sinners to redeem and save. Alleluia!
But the pains that He endured, Alleluia! Our salvation have procured, Alleluia!
Now above the sky He’s King, Alleluia! Where the angels ever sing. Alleluia!
Jesus Christ is risen today, Alleluia! Our triumphant holy day, Alleluia!
Who did once upon the cross, Alleluia! Suffer to redeem our loss. Alleluia!

-Charles Wesley