Easter Memories and Reflections

Luke 24:13-35 My First Easter Speech: O thou who died on Calvary, To save my soul And make me free. I gladly give my soul to thee, My Savior and my all To Christ the Lord of all I have been trying to decide what to write about for this article. This past Sunday was Palm Sunday, the day in which Christians recognize Jesus’ entry into Jerusalem riding on a colt of a donkey. Palm Sunday begins what Christians recognize as Passion Week. On Friday Jesus is crucified and dies on the cross. On Sunday Jesus rises from the dead and leaves the grave. The disciples discover that the grave is empty. Jesus is raised just as He had told them. So, there are a lot of things that can be written about concerning the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus. While I was trying to decide what to write about, it came into my memory some of the Easter Sundays that have impacted my life. I want to share some of them with you. I hope that these memories and reflections will motivate you, encourage you, and give you hope. The speech above was my first speech that I said in our church, Mount Zion Missionary Baptist Church in Columbia, Tennessee. If my memory is correct I was five years old. My mom had taught me this speech, and she had me to repeat it to her every day, making sure that I not only could remember the words, but that I used the proper voice inflections. From time to time she would have me to stand using proper posture. At that time I was only trying to remember a speech. Little did I know that mom was teaching me discipline? Mom was teaching me to make sure that I paid attention to details. Mom told me I had to stand up straight with my head up so that the people could hear me. Later, I learn that posture is a part of how I pronounce my words. Posture is very important because it is body language. Research has taught us that three fourths of what we say is interpreted by others through our body language. Standing with the correct posture helps the child to develop a healthy body. It is Easter morning, and we are having our annual Easter Sunrise services at the church. It is time for me to say my speech. I stand to the left of the pulpit. I put my hands behind my back and stand up straight. I look at the audience as mom has taught me. I say my speech and as I begin to walk off the stage I see the response of two of the deacons. Deacon Oddie Baughas and Deacon Ervie Hue Dale (I’m not sure that I spelled their names correctly) were sitting on the first two rows. I remember them hitting one another as they gave their approval for what I had done. I am now seventy years old, and I have never forgotten the look on their faces. Maybe that is reason that I have never forgotten my first speech in church. I wonder how many children have experienced a mother that takes the time to make sure that her son is learning lessons that will last for life. You may ask how she found the time to do all of that. Mom taught me as I sat on the bench at the kitchen table while she cooked. Mom was a multi tasking mom. I wonder how many young people today have the experience of feeling a sense of accomplishment and approval that I felt that Easter morning. So, I said the speech and I felt good about it, but what did I learn? What did I know about Jesus dying and my soul set free? Frankly, at best I had a rudimentary knowledge of these things. A child is born because a seed is planted. An embryo is formed in the mother’s womb. The embryo grows and develops into a fetus for nine months inside the womb. The fetus receives its essential nutrients and oxygen from the blood of the mother through the unbiblical cord. The fetus knows nothing about the outside world. At last, at nine months the infant is born into the world. Everything changes. Old things have passed away. All things are new. In like manner my mother carried me in her religious womb. Finally, at age ten I am ready to be born into the kingdom of God. Life is forever changed. I must continue to grow and develop into the disciple that Jesus wants me to be. I wonder how many children have developed through a process like this. I challenge parents and church to take the time to develop the children that God has given them charge over. I remember my sisters that were in college coming home for Easter. I remember them staying up late at night finishing their Easter dresses and straightening their hair. They wanted to look their best. Now, let us be clear. Today, there is a lot of emphasis on “come to church just as you are.” The two are different. No one should stay away from church because people look at them funny or say things to embarrass them. Yes, people should come as they are because God does not judge a person by outward appearance. God judges the heart. “But the LORD said to Samuel, ‘do not look at his appearance or at the height of his stature, because I have rejected him; for God sees not as man sees, for man looks at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart’” (1 Sam. 16:7, NASB). On the other hand, when we dressed up in our Easter best we knew that people were looking at our clothes, and we were being judged by our clothes because as we have just read, man looks at the outward appearance. However, there is greater purpose. We are going to God’s house; the king’s house. Our dress reflects our thankfulness for all the blessings that God bestows upon us. It’s Easter. It is a special day. We are joyful because of what God has done for us. Jesus died on the cross on Good Friday. He was in the grave for three days. But, early Sunday morning before the break of day Jesus is resurrected from the dead. It’s a great day and our dress is simply a part of our joyful celebration on this great Sabbath Day. What about daddy? My daddy was a share cropper. On Easter morning dad would get up early. He and my older brothers had to milk cows. My mom did not drive a car. So, when it was time for us to go to the church dad would leave my brother Dorris with the cows. He would come to the house and take us to church. He and Dorris would finish milking the cows; go to the house, get dressed and come to church. Dad was teaching me to take care of my family. I need to do what I need to do to take care of my family; my wife and my children. As I think about Easter sunrise services at Mount Zion, I remember that there was a sunrise program that almost all the children participated in. Our parents and other church members were there for us. There were speeches by individual persons. There were speeches and skits in which two or more persons participated in. Sometimes a skit would be performed by children from one family. The children did not always have their speeches memorized. They would have their speeches written out and if necessary they would look at their paper. Sometimes the child’s mom or older sibling would know the speech and when the performer could not remember they would be given verbal cues. Although a child might not remember their speech they were never embarrassed. The adults would wait on the child. You would hear them say things like: “take your time.” “That’s alright.” The audience would sit quietly and patiently waiting for the performer to finish their speech. When the child returned to their seat they would receive applause just like the children that remembered their speech. The two songs that I remember most are “Were You There” (when they crucified my Lord)? “He Rose” (from the dead). I am thankful for my Easter experiences. They are a part of the foundation that my life is built upon. Every now and then I remember the response of the two deacons. I remember that just as they gave their approval the Lord gives me His approval because Jesus became a propitiation for my sins through faith (Rom. 3:25). I am forgiven of my sins because I have been declared righteous because “the blood of Jesus His Son cleanses us from sin” (1 Jn. 1:7). The Scripture says, “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse from all unrighteousness” (1 Jn. 1:9, NASB). Time and space will not permit me to tell of all my Easter experiences; there are so many. It is my prayer that churches, families, and individuals will have a blessed Easter this year and in the years to come. As Jesus explained to the two disciples on the Emmaus Road, the death, burial, and resurrection was necessary for the fulfillment of the promise of God spoken by the prophets. Don’t neglect to celebrate what God has done for us through His Son Jesus Christ.