With the seasons of the Christian year we rehearse the story of Jesus. Finishing Lent, we enter the season of Easter. Without Easter - without the resurrection of Jesus, that is - there would be no Christian year. Without the resurrection of Jesus we'd have never heard of the man. He would just be another crucified rebel against Rome, one of thousands. All nobodies, all losers, all cast aside into the dustbin of history.

As Christians we make much of Jesus' death on the cross - and we're right to do so! But apart from the resurrection that death would have been pointless. By raising Jesus from the dead the Father vindicated everything Jesus had said and done. In essence, the resurrection confirmed, "Yes, Jesus is who he said he was. Yes, forgiveness, freedom, and real life are to be found in him."

Without Jesus's life, death, and resurrection we'd be sunk. We'd still be mired in sin and death. As those who have experienced life in Christ, we now have the calling to share him with others so they can find the same life we've found. This time of year is a perfect time to invite friends, family, neighbors, enemies, even total strangers.

You can imagine three broad ways to invite people.

First, you can invite them to events. We have the special Holy Week events you can invite people to. You can bring them to the Easter services - Sunrise at 7am or the usual service at 10:45. You can invite them to experience Hardy's "warm heart."

Second, you can share your testimony with them. You can tell them stories of the difference Jesus has made in your life. It might be how you came to faith in Christ or it might be smaller stories of your life of faith.

Third, you can tell them the story of Jesus. Tell of who he is and what he's done. Share about how he bore our sin on the cross, dying for us. You can tell them that Easter, contrary to so many of the visuals we experience, isn't about flowers, bunnies, eggs, or candy, but about the incarnate Son of God defeating death by rising from the dead.

People need to hear that. People need Jesus. You can be the bridge that helps them find Jesus.

1 Corinthians 15:58
Rev. Richard Heyduck