Easter triumph! Easter joy!
“Shout aloud and sing for joy, people of Zion.” (Isaiah 12:6a)
How do you express your joy when something special or exciting happens?
If you think about it, your reaction is likely that you shout out loud or maybe you starting singing a happy tune.
It is no different today as we celebrate the most joyous day of our Christian faith. If you had the opportunity to join your fellow Christians in worship, it was likely impossible to miss the joy of Easter in the music which was played and sung. Maybe you heard trumpets and other instruments adding to the joyous sound of the music. Very likely you sang the word “alleluia” many times and perhaps you even found yourself almost shouting the alleluias.
Our Bible verse for this week encourages us to do exactly what we just mentioned. It doesn’t just tell us to smile and be happy, but very clearly tell us to “Shout aloud and sing for joy.”
Think about how people react when
- A man proposes to a woman
- A team wins an exciting game
- Someone gives an outstanding performance on the stage
- You receive a very special gift.
If you look at each of those and similar situations you realize that you don’t just sit there expressionless or frown as the event is taking place. When you have true and real joy, it is hard to not express it – you want to let everyone know how happy and excited you are.
If that is how we feel when we experience earthly joy, how much more should we express our joy as we celebrate the event which is at the heart of our Christian faith? Today we don’t just celebrate that Jesus rose from the dead. We also celebrate what Jesus’ resurrection means for us and the confidence and hope which it gives us. What greater joy can we have than knowing that our sins are forgiven? What greater confidence can we have than knowing that death is not the end, but a passageway to heaven? What greater hope can we have than knowing that there is absolutely nothing in this life or this world which we need to be afraid of because Jesus is in control of everything.
Don’t let that Easter peace, joy and excitement disappear tomorrow and in the days ahead. Keep shouting and singing your Easter joy so that you keep enjoying it and so that you can also share it with others around you!