by Pastor Brian Petak
We break our fast today, Easter Sunday, celebrating our Savior Jesus Christ’s resurrection! Let us celebrate together that “Christ is not here” is the good news from Joseph’s tomb, and Jesus is alive forevermore!
5 “Why do you seek the living among the dead? 6 He is not here, but has risen. Remember how he told you, while he was still in Galilee, 7 that the Son of Man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men and be crucified and on the third day rise.”
~ Angels at the Tomb, Luke 24:5-7
Meditation
Reflect on these words about the crucifixion of the Lord Jesus:
That which the thrust of the spear ascetertained as a fact, the burial colored and characterized, and thus made public. ‘He is not here.’ This is the only place of which it could be considered good news to say, Christ is not here. ‘Christ is here’ was good news at Bethany, at Jericho, at Nain, at Capernaum, or on the Sea of Galilee; but ‘Christ is not here’ is the good news from Joseph’s tomb.
~ Horatius Bonar, 19th Century Scottish Pastor and Hymnwriter – Edinburgh, Scotland
Call to Worship
Hear God call you to worship through his word:
17 When I saw him, I fell at his feet as though dead. But he laid his right hand on me, saying, “Fear not, I am the first and the last, 18 and the living one. I died, and behold I am alive forevermore, and I have the keys of Death and Hades.
Revelation 1:17-18
Adoration
Pray this praise to God:
Christ the Lord is risen today, Alleluia!
Earth and heaven in chorus say, Alleluia!
Raise your joys and triumphs high, Alleluia!
Sing, ye heavens, and earth reply, Alleluia!
Love’s redeeming work is done, Alleluia!
Fought the fight, the battle won, Alleluia!
Death in vain forbids him rise, Alleluia!
Christ has opened paradise, Alleluia!
Lives again our glorious King, Alleluia!
Where, O death, is now thy sting? Alleluia!
Once he died our souls to save, Alleluia!
Where’s thy victory, boasting grave? Alleluia!
Soar we now where Christ has led, Alleluia!
Following our exalted Head, Alleluia!
Made like him, like him we rise, Alleluia!
Ours the cross, the grave, the skies, Alleluia!
Hail the Lord of earth and heaven, Alleluia!
Praise to thee by both be given, Alleluia!
Thee we greet triumphant now, Alleluia!
Hail the Resurrection, thou, Alleluia!
King of glory, soul of bliss, Alleluia!
Everlasting life is this, Alleluia!
Thee to know, thy power to prove, Alleluia!
Thus to sing, and thus to love, Alleluia!
~ Charles Wesley, 18th Century English Pastor & Hymnwriter, author of great hymns like “Hark! The Herald Angels Sing”, “O For A Thousand Tongues To Sing” and “And Can It Be” – London, England
Confession of Sin
Confess your sins to God:
O God the Father of heaven, have mercy upon us.
O God the Son, Redeemer of the world, have mercy upon us.
O God the Holy Spirit, have mercy upon us.
Be merciful to us and spare us, O Lord.
Be merciful to us and deliver us, O Lord.
From all sin, from all error, from all evil – deliver us, O Lord.
From the wiles of the devil and from everlasting death – deliver us, O Lord.
Lord Jesus, by the mystery of your holy incarnation,
by your holy nativity,
by your baptism, fasting, temptations – deliver us, O Lord.
By your agony and bloody sweat,
by your cross and passions, by your death and burial,
by your resurrection and ascension,
by the coming of the Holy Spirit, the Comforter – deliver us, O Lord. Amen.
~ Martin Bucer, 16th Century English reformer & influencer of John Calvin – Cambridge, England
Assurance of Pardon
Receive these words of comfort from God:
As for you, O Lord, you will not restrain
your mercy from me;
your steadfast love and your faithfulness will
ever preserve me!
Psalm 40:11
Prayer of Intercession
As you make your requests to God, pray this prayer:
Almighty God, who through your only-begotten Son Jesus
Christ overcame death and opened to us the gate of
everlasting life: Grant that we, who celebrate with joy the
day of the Lord’s resurrection, may be raised from the death
of sin by your life-giving Spirit; through Jesus Christ our
Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one
God, now and for ever. Amen.
~ Book of Common Prayer (1552)
Further Petition
Pray for:
- Personal: pray that you will exhibit and display to others the hope, joy and peace that can only result from the reality of the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead.
- Church: pray today that we would more deeply embrace the reality of the resurrection in our lives, and respond with hearts full of resurrection assurance as we gather together to respond to God today.
- Community: pray for all of the churches in our community who are celebrating Easter today, and for the many visitors who often attend church only on Easter, who are in need of hope.
- World: pray that the world Jesus Christ created would repent and turn to Him, in saving knowledge of the work He accomplished for all, through His death and resurrection.
Connect the Heart
Consider the following questions to better connect your head and your heart:
- What did God show you about Himself through today’s devotional?
- What did God show you about yourself through today’s devotional?
- What is something you need to surrender to God today as you pursue greater intimacy with Him?
Benediction
As you close your time of meditation and devotion, receive by faith this blessing from God:
20 Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly beyond all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us, 21 to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever. Amen.
Ephesians 3:20-21
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Content for our 21 Days of Prayer & Fasting devotionals is adapted from several sources, books on prayer, meditations and liturgies, drawing heavily from O Sacred Head, Now Wounded by Jonathan Gibson (copyright 2024 by Crossway)