What comes after Easter? (reposted)

With a slower approach to Lent this year, I hope we have discovered a newness to Easter. Often, in my haste, I miss so much. But I have to wonder, what really comes after Easter? As we continue in that slowness, reclaiming what we might have lost or maybe something we missed, let’s begin to wonder.

On that first Easter morning, we find those closest to Jesus, not joyful, but confused. As we watch them, they begin to wonder and something miraculous happens. God shows up, as God often does.

My sister chooses a word each year that guides her through the coming months. As she prepares to find the word, I believe it actually chooses her. This year her word is ‘wonder.” I love this word!

The definition of wonder is; “a feeling of surprise mingled with admiration, caused by something beautiful, unexpected, unfamiliar, or inexplicable.”

For me, wonder is the excitement of the ‘what if.” The feeling of something more and the twinkle in a child’s eye.

When the women showed up at the empty tomb, they could not help but wonder. Even Peter, upon arrival, looked at the linens and then left wondering. Wonder keeps our hearts and minds open to the mystery of God. It helps us believe in the unbelievable. Wonder is kin to hope. And hope never disappoints.

Let’s reclaim our wonder.

Let’s look at Luke 24:1-12 NIV;

“On the first day of the week, very early in the morning, the women took the spices they had prepared and went to the tomb. ² They found the stone rolled away from the tomb, ³ but when they entered, they did not find the body of the Lord Jesus. ⁴ While they were wondering about this, suddenly two men in clothes that gleamed like lightning stood beside them. ⁵ In their fright the women bowed down with their faces to the ground, but the men said to them, “Why do you look for the living among the dead? ⁶ He is not here; he has risen! Remember how he told you, while he was still with you in Galilee: ⁷ ‘The Son of Man must be delivered over to the hands of sinners, be crucified and on the third day be raised again.’ ” ⁸ Then they remembered his words.

⁹ When they came back from the tomb, they told all these things to the Eleven and to all the others. ¹⁰ It was Mary Magdalene, Joanna, Mary the mother of James, and the others with them who told this to the apostles. ¹¹ But they did not believe the women, because their words seemed to them like nonsense. ¹² Peter, however, got up and ran to the tomb. Bending over, he saw the strips of linen lying by themselves, and he went away, wondering to himself what had happened.”

Wonder is our gateway to God. 

• While the women were wondering, two angels appeared. When we wonder, we open ourselves up to possibilities. Instead of jumping to conclusions, these women wondered. How many times have I missed God because, instead of wondering, I jumped to conclusions.
• Peter left wondering. There was a knowledge of Easter that had not yet been fulfilled. It would take the coming days to solidify their trust in God and Jesus. Wonder will bring a miracle to completion. But God knows we need to time to grow and learn and even believe. However, when we behold God and His miracles, wonder is what empowers us to believe.

So, what comes after Easter?

In the coming weeks, I want us to wonder about it all. Wonder who rolled away the stone? What it was like to meet those angels? When they finally knew everything Jesus said was true?

Our faith hinges on Easter. Jesus, being fully human and fully divine, came and lived among us. Although he performed mighty acts, all for God’s glory, he still died a brutal death for you and me. Then, on the third day, God raised him up, just like Jesus told them. As we wonder about it all, may our hearts and minds be open to greatness of God.

Because, you know what comes after Easter?

WONDER!

And you know what comes after wonder?

That would be God!

Let us pray;

God of all that is, open our hearts and minds to the wonder of who you are. Help us to understand you are the God of miracles. May we walk in the confidence of that truth.  In Jesus’ name, Amen. 

P.S. Leave me a comment below about your own wonderings. Forward this message to a friend that might need to reclaim some wonder today. Share on Facebook and ask the world if they ever wonder. Don’t forget to tag me. And keep on wondering.-M