I hope everyone has had a wonderful Easter! Whether its involved a family break over the school holidays, some days off work, or just a reminder of what our Lord and Savior did for us, I hope that in it all the message of Easter has touched and refreshed your heart. 

For Christians, Easter is one of the most significant times of the year, as we remember the sacrifice Jesus made for all of us by dying for our sins and making the way for us to be eternally  saved.

I found myself in church on Easter Sunday listening to a sermon called "Come and See'. A few days later the message is still in my thoughts and I wanted to share some of it with you here and my meditations of it.

The bible verse is from John 20:11. It says that after the crucifixion of Jesus, Mary went to the tomb and found the stone had been rolled away from the entrance. Discovering that Jesus was no longer laid there, Mary was upset and crying . As she looked into the tomb there appeared two angels who asked her why she was crying. She replied that she was upset because "someone had taken her Lord away." Then she turned and saw Jesus, but SHE DIDN'T RECOGNISE HIM.  Jesus said her her "Woman, why are you crying? Who is it you are looking for?" At that time, Mary thought Jesus was the gardener! She was so upset she could not see who he really was! Then Jesus said "Mary" - he called her by name and then Mary recognised him and everything changed!

Further reading in John 20 shows that the other disciples did not see him or believe the news that Jesus had risen from the dead at first. It was only when Jesus REVEALED HIMSELF TO THEM that they believed.

As I've meditated on this Easter message, I am reminded of my own blindness at times. Blindness that comes from my own mindsets that cause me to cling to unbelief and doubt. I think of my loved ones that I am prayingfor. I so want them to SEE Jesus! Many know about him and have heard about him but until Jesus reveals himself to them, they won't see him for themselves. I am reminded to keep praying for them to SEE the truth that is right there waiting for them. 

Jesus understands our lack of faith and doubt. In verse 24, we read of his disciple Thomas, who said "“Unless I see the nail marks in his hands and put my finger where the nails were, and put my hand into his side, I will not believe.” Jesus walked through a locked door to get to Thomas and instructed Thomas to put his fingers in his hands and side. Then he said to him "Stop doubting and believe!" What an amazing experience that would have been, and yet Jesus said in Verse 29 "Because you have seen me, you have believed; blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed!"

I only have to think back to those days before I made the choice to become a Christian. I grew up believing in God, yet I really didn't think of God much at all and certainly didn't live my life with Him in mind. But in one moment, while hearing a gospel message I was like Mary. I SAW him! No, it wasn't physically, yet it was every bit as real. So real that I remember that day like it was yesterday, yet that was over 40yrs ago! And that day changed my life forever, the day I saw Jesus, the day He called my name. That was the day I knew that it was Him I had been looking for all my life. That day I decided to follow Him.

The message I would love to leave with you this Easter is this. If you are a believer, pray for your loved ones to SEE Jesus for themselves. It won't be you or I that convinces them that Jesus is real, it will be Jesus himself, who still appears to us today. 

Yes we must go and tell others. In fact after Mary saw him, Jesus instructed her to GO AND TELL OTHERS. But we shouldn't be surprised when others don't believe us. The disciples didn't believe Mary either!

But when we tells others about Jesus we are sharing a truth and planting a seed in that person. Sometimes people see Jesus in us! Sometimes they don't! But never give up praying that they see Jesus for themselves, because this is what brings the CHANGE and true SALVATION.

Are you are a believer in God, yet you have doubts? Do you have trouble believing that Jesus rose from the dead? Do you have trouble believing that Jesus is real today, and that you can have a real relationship with him right now? Are you like Thomas? 
Jesus understands you, and He will meet with you wherever you are at. All you need to do is pray to him, "Jesus I need to know you are real. Please reveal yourself to me like you did to Mary, to all the disciples, even to Thomas. Forgive my unbelief and help me to SEE."

While still on earth, Jesus took the time to explain to his disciples (and to us) what would happen after his death and resurrection. We can read it here in John 14.

“Do not let your hearts be troubled. You believe in God, believe also in me. My Father’s house has many rooms; if that were not so, would I have told you that I am going there to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am. You know the way to the place where I am going.”
Thomas said to him, “Lord, we don’t know where you are going, so how can we know the way?”
Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. If you really know me, you will know my Father as well. From now on, you do know him and have seen him.”

My prayer for you this Easter is that you REALLY KNOW JESUS, and if you already know Him, get to know Him more each and every day. Our relationship with Jesus is the same as any relationship. If we want it to be a good one we will spend time with Him, we will get to know Him more and more until that day comes when we leave this life on earth and go to our Fathers house that he is preparing for those who love him.

May the Lord bless you and keep you! May the Lord make his face shine on you and be gracious to you!
May the Lord turn his face toward you and give you peace!
Jenspen

PS This link includes the little short videos I shared over Easter.

https://youtube.com/shorts/BYJaMTTJPOs?feature=share