Has Easter Made a Difference?
Scripture Reading — John 20:1-8
“I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.”
Yesterday Christians everywhere celebrated the resurrection of the Lord Jesus. Some of us sang the words, "I serve a risen Savior, he's in the world today." And our hearts resonated with every word.
Today we're back to school or work or at home facing the pressures of everyday life. But the risen Savior may not seem nearly as close today, and little may seem to have changed. We're still faced with that lingering disease, that broken relationship, those financial problems, or those hardships that come with growing older. We hear about poverty and persecution, about war and conflict in so many countries, and we might ask, "Has Easter really made a difference? Has anything changed in the past 2,000 years since Jesus' resurrection? Are things any better in the 21st century than they were in the first century?"
Though nations, technology, and social institutions have changed a lot since then, the human condition is much the same. God's imagebearers are still addicted to sin. Jesus warned his followers, "In this world you will have trouble." But because he has overcome the world, we can have new life in him and peace in spite of our struggles. We can strive to enact God's restoration in our daily lives. We can share his love with others and look forward together to the day when the risen Savior will return!
Lord Jesus, help us to trust that you have overcome the world and will come again, making all things new. Amen.
About the author — Arthur J. Schoonveld
Rev. Art Schoonveld is a retired minister in the Christian Reformed Church. Before retiring in 2001, he served churches in California, Illinois, and Michigan. Since his retirement he has worked part-time for the denomination and has served as an interim pastor. Art and his wife, Anita, have four children and nine grandchildren.
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