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This article originally appeared in the May 2006 Gold Canyon Lifestyle

Easter Changes Everything

Easter changes everything! Or does it? I mean really, how different are you because of Easter? It is one thing to celebrate the holiday in April, but it is another thing to walk with Jesus in May and beyond. Are you changed because of what happened on that first Resurrection Day? Does it show throughout the year?

The real “change” occurs to those people who realize Jesus Christ is “the fullness of the Deity...in bodily form” (Col. 2:9). In other words, God clothed Himself in humanity to be one of us, show us how to live and died in our place in order to give us life - a life lived in worship to Him. Those who think it is just a holiday, or a religious rite, or a place to attend, or an idea to be discussed or a book to read or a historical figure to remember - miss out on real relationship with a live person.

Jesus is alive - and that changes everything about life on earth. How can you ensure that the real, live, breathing, active Jesus changes your life on a daily basis and for an eternity? What do you need to do to be changed? Enter Mary (John 20:1-17).

You can be sure that you are changed by our Resurrected Savior by being in the right place. Mary is the only one at the tomb. Out of all the people that heard Jesus utter the words that He would die and then rise again in three days (how specific could He get?), Mary is the only one there after the 3 days. To meet with Jesus you have to be “in the right place” as well.

You must be at the place in life where you are ready to believe in this Resurrected Jesus. The wonderful thing is that the right place is when you are at rock bottom. The right place is when you are on your knees, when you are out of options, no where else to turn. The right place is that place where you realize you need help. When you come to the realization that your only hope is Jesus. Everything else fails. Everyone else falls short. Jesus is the answer. Being in the right place means you are broken, unable to handle life on your own, certainly unable to reach the heights of Heaven on your own merits. You need a Savior, you need the Great God - what a wonderful place to be!

Mary also receives a new perspective on life. As she studies the tomb the night before (Matthew 27:61) she is hopeless and in despair. The hope that she put on Jesus must have disappeared as Jesus’ lifeless body lay imprisoned in a tomb. But hearing one word changed everything. Jesus said with gentleness and yet extreme power the word: “Mary” (John 20:16). Mary immediately knew it was the One who had died. She immediately recognized her Savior’s voice. That one word and the realization that He lives changed everything she believed about life and death and sin and evil. Life’s greatest struggle and life’s greatest threat - death - was overcome and crushed. Mary knew that in Jesus there is victory.

He is still the personal God that calls your name. He knows where you live. He knows what you are thinking. He knows the next words that are going to come out of your mouth. He calls you; wants to be with you; He loves you. He is alive.