It was an amazed, re-energized Mary Magdalene who came running, shouting to an early gathering of confused disciples just three days after the dark happenings of Calvary, “I have seen the Lord!”  Those who lived next door to the resurrection of Christ eagerly communicated the thrill of their experiences to others. Through their testimony the resurrection was being announced to a growing audience; it was showing up in people’s lives, and taking shape within their community.

Luke shares a simple statement with us in Acts 4:20 which well describes the mindset of the first church — “We can’t help speaking about what we have seen and heard.” I appreciate the way David Buttrick speaks of the experience of Jesus’ followers. The resurrection, says Buttrick, affirms that “Christ is not locked in past-tense obituary, but present and, indeed, exalted.”  To use the age-old greeting rehearsed by many  Christian churches every Easter Sunday, “Christ is risen! He is risen indeed!”

This Easter, I invite you to come with a friend or neighbour to Markham Baptist Church – or to a church near to where you live. Come worship the One who, before the beginning of time itself, created life and in Jesus’ day; the One who, from a grave that had been sealed by the Romans to assure death’s victory, asserted the triumph of God’s Life-giving power through Christ’s resurrection. Come worship this Easter the One who promises present and eternal hope to all who believe in the Son – Jesus Christ.

The triumphant music of the morning will certainly bless you, as will the spoken witness of scripture, the present-tense truth of Easter and the baptismal testimony of one young person who can say with Mary, “I have seen the Lord.”

Join us for 10:30 A.M. Easter worship and baptism preceded by a hot breakfast at 9:15 A.M. We have reason to gather and praise our God.  “Christ is risen, today!”

Enthusiastically in Christ,

Pastor Craig