Nothing in All the World

It is Easter morning; Resurrection Sunday. Nothing in all the world is of greater import than the realities of that historical moment. We celebrate the physical resurrection of the God-Man Jesus, and in this wonder, the evidentiary defeat of sin, death, and the devil – something so beyond measure. What else can be said that would be more significant? The sun is shining and it looks to be a beautiful day. But this creation beauty starkly pales beside the glory of our Lord in this highest expression of His sacrificial love. It was from before the foundations of the world that the Lamb was slain and that His love was being expressed to us. And it was there He laid out His plan so filled with wonder. Like the Apostle Paul we have difficulty grasping or expressing so great a love. Words just fail us all:

For this reason I bow my knees before the Father, from whom every family in heaven and on earth is named, that according to the riches of his glory he may grant you to be strengthened with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith—that you, being rooted and grounded in love, may have strength to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled with all the fullness of God. [Ephesians 3:14-19]

It is out of His eternal wonders that our daily wonders flow. Without the Lamb slain, the all-sufficient sacrifice for sin, and the historical Resurrection, there would be no joy and no wonder. There would be no rich beauty of the woodlands, no winding trails of breathtaking discovery and challenge, no peaceful retreat for the heart and mind. Our Resurrected Christ, the Lamb that was slain, has accomplished a lasting peace in our heart. He is our peace.

But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ. For he himself is our peace, who has made us both one and has broken down in his flesh the dividing wall of hostility... [Ephesians 2:13-14]

So celebrate with me today. If you have been taking the trails with me, accompanying me in my runner’s journey and feasting on the daily gifts of beauty and fun, then take this trail with me and see how all this crazy beauty came to be along the trails. The stunning glory in the woods and across the sky, our pulsing hearts overcome with the raw wonder of creation, it is possible only because of God’s faithfulness and unrestrained love to us. And all of it he confirmed to us, once for all, on the cross and by His death and through His resurrection. He said it all and said it best, “It is finished.” [John 19:30] And then the angles of Easter morning, “He is not here, for he has risen, as he said. Come, see the place where he lay.” [Matthew 28:6] We see the beauty everyday of our lives - and the beauty is because He is. We run the trails and feel the rush of joy and sing out loud with freedom and we laugh - it is all because he has loved us so… so fully, so overflowing and rich, without measure, without restraint He has loved us. We can no longer restrain ourselves. He has loved us with too great a love. We are overtaken.

He is Risen. He is Risen indeed! Run with me friend.