On Resurrection Sunday, we celebrate “the Hope of the Cross” - the Crucified and Resurrected Lord Jesus Christ.

In her book, God’s Story, Anne Graham Lotz writes,

Real meaning to your life is found in the glorious dawn of God’s story, which breaks into full revelation in the Person of Jesus Christ. What an astounding truth! What a life-changing message!

In telling the story we explore today from Luke’s gospel, Simon Peter’s protégé, John Mark, leaves his readers “hanging.” He concludes abruptly telling how the women who encountered God’s messenger where the stone had been rolled away ran from the tomb - and Mark’s final word in the original language is “because” (gar for you Greek scholars). Taking Mark’s first words (1:1) as an introduction (personally, I think they served as his title!), we understand that all sixteen chapters of his gospel are only the “beginning of the Good News of Jesus Christ, the Son of God.” He concludes with the cliff hanger “because” . . . because the story continues as the Good News of Jesus is shared and received and shared and received and shared!

Anne helps us as we read on in God’s Story:

Because He emptied Himself of all but love, you can be filled.

Because His body was broken, you can be whole.

Because He was forsaken, you will never be alone.

Because He was buried, you can be raised.

Because He reached down to you, you don’t have to work your way up to Him.

Because His promises are always true, you can have hope!

Praise God for giving us Jesus!

Let’s tell the truth about Jesus . . . because He lives!

I’m proud to be your pastor,

Jerry