Luke and Rachel just bought a house, and they moved in a week or so ago….and hosted our Easter feast today! This buffet table/unit is from their La Bella Vita shop (the old counter), and it works so well loaded up with the Easter fare. Kids are in the background and Heather (who never takes a bad picture) gives the camera a smile. You should have seen the crazy egg hunt in the back yard: thirteen cousins running around while two baby cousins watched with interest. Hope you all had a blessed day!
The women who watched the crucifixion from afar had “followed Jesus from Galilee, ministering to Him” (Mt. 27:55). I’d like to consider what it would mean to minister to Jesus, and how we can continue in these women’s footsteps today, ministering unto the Lord.
Jesus had a following of faithful women, as I mentioned in the previous post, and they must have been preparing food for Him, getting water for Him, perhaps washing His feet, and any number of other things. This was their ministry to the Lord, the One who made Heaven and Earth: to give Him a drink of the water that He spoke into existence.
To minister is to act as a servant, to provide and care for. The women who served Jesus used their hands and feet. Mary even used her hair and her tears to wash His feet (Luke 7:36-50). Their ministry to Him was tangible. Jesus could taste it, drink it, and smell it. Continue reading ‘Women of the Cross’
Many women were eyewitnesses of the crucifixion, “looking on from afar” as it says in Matthew 27:55. This text tells us they had “followed Jesus from Galilee, ministering to Him.” Those named in the different Gospels include Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James and Joses, and the mother of Zebedee’s sons.
Both Marys saw the body of Jesus removed from the cross, they saw where Jesus was laid in the tomb, and they witnessed the large stone rolled against the door of the tomb. Both arrived at dawn Sunday morning and saw the angel of the Lord descend and roll back the stone; and both met the risen Lord as they ran to tell the disciples the joyful news. These women, when confronted with the risen Christ, “held Him by the feet and worshiped Him” (vs. 9).
The Gospel of Mark also mentions Salome (15:40-41) at the cross and with the two Marys as they brought spices to anoint His body. Luke includes more women at the tomb in the morning: “Mary Magdalene, Joanna, Mary the mother of James, and the other women Continue reading ‘The Women of Good Friday’
This Easter is looking to be a bit crazy for us. We, the Janks, are moving across town; Mom and Dad are going to Poland the day after Easter; the Merkles’ home is being remodeled after the tree incident; and Bekah is furiously getting ready to debut her darling line of fabric at the Quilt Market in May. Although I did consider sewing dresses for my girls, I unconsidered it a moment later. I think I also considered knitting cardigans, or at least shrugs. I can now assure you that is not going to happen. We have had two birthdays this month, and another one yet to come. We have been a little distracted, a little unfocused. And then I had this idea: You all can talk about Easter! Remember the blog party of a while ago? Let’s do it again, but about Easter. Post something about the food you are making – share recipes! Decorate your table and share pictures. Debut the dresses that you made! Just put a link to your blog in the comments, and let’s get this party started. Happy Easter!
I asked a good friend to do a guest post to get us started. She is a wonderful hostess, cook, and knows how to make the food that people just want to eat! She has a houseful of children, but always finds ways to share the bounty of their table with a great many more people. She is the kind of woman that can make parish life a reality. And here she is to tell us a bit about it. Welcome Tora, and thank you!
From Tora’s Kitchen:
One of my favorite aspects of the Easter meal is that the timing of the meal itself motivates me to be more organized. Church in the morning limits the time that I expect to have available for prep and is a great motivator to have things lined up ahead of time. Here are some helpful hints to relieve the pressure on the actual day and give you some confidence to help you greet your guests with a smile.
First of all, I make lists, lots of lists. I get teased by family members for all the lists floating around. Here is a sample of some of the types of lists I’ve made in the past. I’ve even named them for easy reference. Continue reading ‘Easter is Coming! Guest post! Blog Party Invite!’
He is risen indeed! We had a glorious worship service this morning, and three tables full of wonderful friends and family to celebrate with us afterward. Even the clean up was a whiz (though it’s still whizzing, we’re closing in on it).
And now a tidbit from the sermon: We do not need to prove the resurrection; the resurrection is the proof itself. The resurrection proves that Jesus is the Son of God, and that He will come to judge the world. Luke refers to the many infallible proofs of Christ’s resurrection in Acts 1:1-3.
The Kingdom of God refers to the realm and reign of King Jesus, and His crown rights were established by His resurrection from the dead. It is not an ethereal kingdom, but a very real and earthy one. We live like His loyal subjects by loving one another, which is proof to the world that love has been raised from the dead in us. And just like the resurrection was real and physical, our love to one another is real and physical. We touch one another, we feed one another, we give gifts to one another. That is resurrection living.
Hope you all had a blessed day!
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