After Easter – What Now?
Much can be said about what Easter means. But what it means to us after Easter is just as important as what Easter has brought us through Christ’s sacrifice and victory over the grave.
What about living for Christ on this side of Easter? WHAT NOW? When Jesus was leaving Earth to take His rightful place in Heaven, He said, “Before long, the world will not see Me anymore, but you will see Me. Because I live, you also will live.” (John 16:5-7)
So how do we do life this side of Heaven? How does Jesus come to us? Because of Easter and through the Comforter (Holy Spirit), Jesus brings us four things that we continue to need:
1) WE HAVE HIS PRESENCE TO SURROUND US.
There is never a time that He is not available. Jesus said, “Lo I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” (Matthew 28:20) When someone is alive, they are still with you. Because He lives, He remains our partner, companion, daily instructor and friend.
There are great spiritual and ethical leaders who have made promises to their followers throughout history – but there is one thing they all have in common – they are all dead. Their followers can read their ideas and perhaps implement them, but they are not PRESENT to walk and converse with on a daily basis.
But you can go to the tomb where Jesus was buried and find He is not there… HE IS RISEN. That’s what makes Him different – ALIVE, “seated at the right hand of the throne of God, making intercession for us,” just as He promised. (Hebrews 13:5)
2) WE HAVE HIS PEACE TO SECURE US.
Jesus made this promise for all time: “I am leaving you with a gift – peace of mind and heart. And the peace I give you is a gift the world cannot give you. So, don’t be troubled or be afraid.” (John 14:27)
The one thing the disciples were lacking is the one thing only Jesus could give them… His offer was peace. Peace is a commodity that this world can’t give to us. We can’t buy it or purchase it; it simply is not for sale. But when we go to Him, we encounter a Risen Savior who is called the “Prince of peace.”
His peace is a security that will hold us when there is no way to understand our trials or why. His peace is for the asking. His Word promises, “You will keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed upon You, because he trusts in You.” (Isaiah 26:3)
3) WE HAVE HIS POWER TO STRENGTHEN US.
There are moments when we feel we can barely stand. We need a power that is far above our own. Isaiah reminds us, “He gives power to the weak and strength to the powerless." (Isaiah 40:29-31)
Difficulties and tragedies drain us, and we wonder where God is. They lessen our abilities to rise above the storms until our minds calm down and the storm subsides. When this happens and we feel weak, we need to acknowledge Him because He sees the big picture.
We need to put today and tomorrow in His capable hands. He’ll give strength for the journey ahead with more power than any human could ever imagine. This power is promised to us, and we need to receive it!
4) WE HAVE HIS HOPE TO STABILIZE US.
Life throws a lot of curves our way, and our spiritual foundation may at times seem shaky. What is it that settles us and gives us security? It is God’s promise of hope. “Therefore, we who have fled to Him for refuge can have great confidence as we hold to the hope that lies before us. This hope is a strong and trustworthy anchor for our souls. It leads us through the curtain into God’s inner sanctuary.” (Hebrews 6:18-19)
God is not like the voices of this world, who make their flimsy promises and, while their lips are still moving, we wonder if they are lying again. We know God keeps His Word. We have HOPE on our side because of Him.
For certain, life is unpredictable, but nothing catches God by surprise. We have joys, sorrows, disappointments and blessings. But in those moments of unexpected difficulty, when life’s plans and dreams change in a moment, we know we can cope because God has promised us:
His PRESENCE to surround us; His PEACE to secure us; His POWER to strengthen us; and His HOPE to stabilize us.
Thank God for the promises of Easter…then and now!
What about living for Christ on this side of Easter? WHAT NOW? When Jesus was leaving Earth to take His rightful place in Heaven, He said, “Before long, the world will not see Me anymore, but you will see Me. Because I live, you also will live.” (John 16:5-7)
So how do we do life this side of Heaven? How does Jesus come to us? Because of Easter and through the Comforter (Holy Spirit), Jesus brings us four things that we continue to need:
1) WE HAVE HIS PRESENCE TO SURROUND US.
There is never a time that He is not available. Jesus said, “Lo I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” (Matthew 28:20) When someone is alive, they are still with you. Because He lives, He remains our partner, companion, daily instructor and friend.
There are great spiritual and ethical leaders who have made promises to their followers throughout history – but there is one thing they all have in common – they are all dead. Their followers can read their ideas and perhaps implement them, but they are not PRESENT to walk and converse with on a daily basis.
But you can go to the tomb where Jesus was buried and find He is not there… HE IS RISEN. That’s what makes Him different – ALIVE, “seated at the right hand of the throne of God, making intercession for us,” just as He promised. (Hebrews 13:5)
2) WE HAVE HIS PEACE TO SECURE US.
Jesus made this promise for all time: “I am leaving you with a gift – peace of mind and heart. And the peace I give you is a gift the world cannot give you. So, don’t be troubled or be afraid.” (John 14:27)
The one thing the disciples were lacking is the one thing only Jesus could give them… His offer was peace. Peace is a commodity that this world can’t give to us. We can’t buy it or purchase it; it simply is not for sale. But when we go to Him, we encounter a Risen Savior who is called the “Prince of peace.”
His peace is a security that will hold us when there is no way to understand our trials or why. His peace is for the asking. His Word promises, “You will keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed upon You, because he trusts in You.” (Isaiah 26:3)
3) WE HAVE HIS POWER TO STRENGTHEN US.
There are moments when we feel we can barely stand. We need a power that is far above our own. Isaiah reminds us, “He gives power to the weak and strength to the powerless." (Isaiah 40:29-31)
Difficulties and tragedies drain us, and we wonder where God is. They lessen our abilities to rise above the storms until our minds calm down and the storm subsides. When this happens and we feel weak, we need to acknowledge Him because He sees the big picture.
We need to put today and tomorrow in His capable hands. He’ll give strength for the journey ahead with more power than any human could ever imagine. This power is promised to us, and we need to receive it!
4) WE HAVE HIS HOPE TO STABILIZE US.
Life throws a lot of curves our way, and our spiritual foundation may at times seem shaky. What is it that settles us and gives us security? It is God’s promise of hope. “Therefore, we who have fled to Him for refuge can have great confidence as we hold to the hope that lies before us. This hope is a strong and trustworthy anchor for our souls. It leads us through the curtain into God’s inner sanctuary.” (Hebrews 6:18-19)
God is not like the voices of this world, who make their flimsy promises and, while their lips are still moving, we wonder if they are lying again. We know God keeps His Word. We have HOPE on our side because of Him.
For certain, life is unpredictable, but nothing catches God by surprise. We have joys, sorrows, disappointments and blessings. But in those moments of unexpected difficulty, when life’s plans and dreams change in a moment, we know we can cope because God has promised us:
His PRESENCE to surround us; His PEACE to secure us; His POWER to strengthen us; and His HOPE to stabilize us.
Thank God for the promises of Easter…then and now!
Posted in Easter
Recent
Archive
2026
2025
2024
February
March
April
May
June
July
August
September
October
November