Jesus truly loves the Easter season.  It is a happy and delightful time for Him, His Father, and all the people they love so much.  Easter reminds us that the last chapter of our lives is now safe and secure once again.  The awful stain of the sin of our first parents is gone, and with that, the gates of heaven are reopened.  And when our time is right, God, our Father, waits with welcoming arms to embrace all His children as we enter.

God the Father looks forward to that special day when He greets us.  With a smile on His face, God waits ready to give us the gift of resurrected life and an eternity to share it with Him.  We will do all this with those relatives and friends we knew and loved while walking on this earth.  This is why Jesus is so happy.  It’s all about us.

After He rose from the dead, Jesus didn’t stop working for our salvation.  He took not a day of vacation.  And He works until every part of our body, and earthly existence is risen and alive. Jesus desires to ensure that new life flows over all that is still dead within us.

He wants our stubbornness to soften.  He wants our laziness replaced with excitement.  He wants our weariness refreshed with enthusiasm – dispelling any lingering darkness.  Jesus remains in work mode until He sees everyone wrapped in the fond embrace of His Father’s love.

Jesus always knows where we are on our Easter journey.  If He sees us climbing a mountain too steep to manage alone, He accompanies us making the climb easier.  Jesus strengthens our steps with fortitude and determination – keeping us trying until we reach the top.

Knowing this new life is difficult to see, even as it is hiding in plain sight such as the smell and sight of flowers or the touch of warm breezes. Easter has enormous power.  It presents us with the ability to heal and transform our ordinary lives into something extraordinary.  What Jesus wants is our belief and our ready and frequent grasps of its power, giving life, hope, love and Easter joy. 

This gift comes each day as a nudge with Jesus touching us as He did the young dead girl in Scripture, saying, “Tabitha rise up and live.”  At this very moment Jesus is nudging us to new life in some part of our lives. Now to be clear, He may not take our pain or hurt away, but He promises to give us the grace to bear any hardships.  This Easter, Jesus speaks to us, saying “Tabitha, rise up and live.”  

Jesus asks us: This Easter are you ready to live anew?