Easter Joy Remains

eDevotion

Encouragement for your daily walk with God

Just a month ago, April 5th, Christ followers all over the world celebrated the seminal event of Christianity, the resurrection of Jesus. We call it Easter, and unfortunately for many, Easter is already ancient history. I was in a store the other day and they still had PEEPS for sale at a discounted price. I wish our memory of Easter lasted as long as the shelf life of that concoction! The joy of Easter never ends, because it is the foundation for all that God has promised to His children. 

As Jesus went to His cross, He told the disciples they would see Him no more, and then after “a little while,” they would see Him. Their excruciating sorrow, fear, and loneliness would only last “a little while.” Then, the joy would return and remain.

Has anyone ever told you, “Don’t worry, things will get better” or “Time heals all wounds” or “Suck it up for now, everything is going to be all right.” How do they know that? 

Well, Jesus knew what His death and resurrection would do for His disciples in the present and future. Their hearts would be filled with anguish, but they would soon have joy that could not be taken away. But that joy would come afterwards.

The resurrection of Christ validates that our sins have been forgiven, that we have peace with God. Paul said, “Therefore being justified by faith we have peace through our Lord Jesus Christ” [Romans 5:1]. That means that as we live in our “little whiles” of pain, loneliness, anguish, suffering, and sorrow, we have joy — true joy in the resurrected Jesus — the kind of joy that no one can take from you!

In a little while you won’t see me anymore. But a little while after that, you will see me again…20 I tell you the truth, you will weep and mourn over what is going to happen to me, but the world will rejoice. You will grieve, but your grief will suddenly turn to wonderful joy. 21 It will be like a woman suffering the pains of labor. When her child is born, her anguish gives way to joy because she has brought a new baby into the world. 22 So you have sorrow now, but I will see you again; then you will rejoice, and no one can rob you of that joy. John 16:16; 20-22