A few days ago, I opened up these treasures found in my mailbox — thank you notes from my grandchildren who are taking piano lessons from me. How precious it is when children express gratitude. Their mother is teaching them well.
It felt so good to read words of thanks from people I love, it led me to think about how God the Father must feel when we express our thanks to Him. Easter is a good time to do that, don’t you think?
- Dear Jesus, thank You for dying on the cross, taking the blame for my sin. It was a cruel death on an ugly cross, and that’s the reason I stay away from crosses as decorations or in jewelry. At the same time, the sight of the EMPTY cross is beautiful and deeply meaningful.
- Thank you, Jesus, for enduring the crown of thorns, the whip and the nails. When Notre Dame Cathedral caught fire on Monday, some brave firefighters rushed in to save what is believed to be the actual crown of thorns You wore. It doesn’t matter so much whether that is the actual crown. What matters is that You willingly wore it.
- Thank you for expressing forgiveness even while enduring excruciating pain. “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do.” What an example that is for me.
- Thank you for accepting the faith of the thief who was crucified beside You, proving that salvation can happen at ANY moment — even at the LAST moment of life.
- Thank you, Jesus, for coming out of that tomb on the third day. Thank you for conquering death and ascending to the Father.
- Thank you for appearing to so many people after Your resurrection so it could be a thoroughly-witnessed, undisputed fact for generations to follow.
- Even though You COULD HAVE come down from the cross, avoided the suffering and been ministered to by legions of angels, You willingly followed the pattern and path already set forth in the Bible allowing me to receive salvation and eternal life.
If I had to choose just one favorite Easter hymn, I believe it would be “Low In the Grave He Lay” by Robert Lowry. Such powerful words.
| 1 | Low in the grave He lay— Jesus my Savior! Waiting the coming day— Jesus my Lord! |
| Up from the grave He arose, With a mighty triumph o’er His foes He arose a Victor from the dark domain, And He lives forever with His saints to reign He arose! He arose! Hallelujah! Christ arose! | |
| 2 | Vainly they watch His bed— Jesus, my Savior! Vainly they seal the dead— Jesus my Lord! |
| 3 | Death cannot keep his prey— Jesus, my Savior! He tore the bars away— Jesus my Lord! |
I really hope we’ll sing it Sunday morning, and I hope you’ll worship with fellow believers in your own church this Easter.
He is risen! He is risen indeed!
Leave a Reply