One of the things I normally do about an hour before I go to bed is scroll through a few news sources just to see if there is something important I need to know before I hit the hay. The evening of Easter Sunday, I saw this title for an article:
There’s no church, but it’s still Easter and Christians are celebrating.
It made me think about the First Century Church in Corinth. Paul, the author and founder of the church, reminded his congregation that their hope was tied to something different: A person. Not just any person, but one who died and was resurrected. Because of his death and resurrection, those who follow him are linked to him and the One who resurrected him. Paul wrote:
For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God… Where is the wise person? Where is the teacher of the law? Where is the philosopher of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world? For since in the wisdom of God the world through its wisdom did not know him, God was pleased through the foolishness of what was preached to save those who believe. Jews demand signs and Greeks look for wisdom, but we preach Christ crucified: a stumbling block to Jews and foolishness to Gentiles, but to those whom God has called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God. For the foolishness of God is wiser than human wisdom, and the weakness of God is stronger than human strength.
It seems crazy, even foolish, for people to celebrate even when the church is closed. But then again, the foolishness of God is wiser than human wisdom, and the weakness of God is stronger than human strength. Remember, you are an Easter person, in an Easter community, linked to an Easter Lord. Celebrate, Celebrate, Celebrate.
There’s no church, but it’s still Easter and Christians are celebrating.
It made me think about the First Century Church in Corinth. Paul, the author and founder of the church, reminded his congregation that their hope was tied to something different: A person. Not just any person, but one who died and was resurrected. Because of his death and resurrection, those who follow him are linked to him and the One who resurrected him. Paul wrote:
For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God… Where is the wise person? Where is the teacher of the law? Where is the philosopher of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world? For since in the wisdom of God the world through its wisdom did not know him, God was pleased through the foolishness of what was preached to save those who believe. Jews demand signs and Greeks look for wisdom, but we preach Christ crucified: a stumbling block to Jews and foolishness to Gentiles, but to those whom God has called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God. For the foolishness of God is wiser than human wisdom, and the weakness of God is stronger than human strength.
It seems crazy, even foolish, for people to celebrate even when the church is closed. But then again, the foolishness of God is wiser than human wisdom, and the weakness of God is stronger than human strength. Remember, you are an Easter person, in an Easter community, linked to an Easter Lord. Celebrate, Celebrate, Celebrate.
This week’s readings:
- Monday – 1 Peter 1
- Tuesday – 1 Peter 2
- Wednesday – 1 Peter 3
- Thursday – 1 Peter 4
- Friday – 1 Peter 5
Please Pray for:
- Our ministers and their families.
- Those who are unwillingly absent.
- The United Methodist Church family.
- Our nation and our leaders.
- The World.
- The Lost.
- The lives of those touched by the Coronavirus.