Rainy with a Chance of Resurrection
This past weekend our church hosted a community Easter Egg hunt with local businesses, neighbors, and other vendors. It was a truly amazing event and we witnessed many families experience connection, joy, and love in tangible ways.
The only issue was that it was overcast and rainy for most of the day. In fact, it rained until the start of the event and rained the hardest right before the event started. But right at 2pm, the sun broke through the clouds, the rain stopped, and we had a wonderful community event.
After the event, I talked with many people who decided to not come because of the inclement weather. We had food vendors and other businesses drop out last minute, and unfortunately, many families missed out on a really fun Easter Egg hunt.
But for the people that came, they experienced something truly special. Bounce houses became slip n’ slides, snow cones were the top-selling snack, and even those who came late still received plenty of fun and Easter eggs for their kids.
In other words, because of a weather forecast and a short look outside, there was a missed opportunity for a great experience with many who had a wonderful time. I would even go as far to say that for those who showed up believing the sun would come out and the rain would stop, they encountered the miracle of what we celebrate this week: when all looked rainy and our world was overcast with death, there was still a chance of resurrection.
And resurrection is exactly what happened.
And that powerful resurrection is still taking the forecasts and short glances outside, and shining marvelous light on them. The power of the resurrection takes our expectations and does immeasurably more than what we can imagine. Resurrection power continues to break through the moments when all seems lost and hopeless, and reminds us that Jesus experienced those same things, and then rose from the grave. And the greatest thing of all is that the power of the resurrection is perpetually inviting us to receive full life no matter our forecast (external or internal).
I write all of this to say that I look forward to this weekend knowing that there will be a lot happening. Good Friday, family gatherings, Easter Worship Services, and much more. And in the midst of that all, our weather forecast shows high chances of cloudy weather and rain on both Saturday and Sunday. I not only see the forecasts of external rainstorms, but I’ve heard from many facing the immense difficulty of an overcast mind and stormy circumstances in their families, workplaces, neigborhoods, and communities. I look to our nation and the consistent divides based on politics, ethnicity, and other variables add another layer to the weather as well. The many forecasts are troubling.
All of this to say, whether it be the weather external or internal, there are a million reasons that people would look at this weekend ahead and come up with an excuse not to gather together. “It’s too rainy”, “This weather has me too tired”, “I don’t agree with everything they say or believe”, “I don’t like their music”, “My Easter outfit isn’t nice enough”, and the list goes on and on.
In the midst of the forecast, I want to remind you that when it was the darkest point in history, light broke through. When the storms were raging, Jesus calmed the wind and waves. When the forecast looked like nothing would ever change, everything changed for the better. When it seemed too far, too great, or just plain impossible, we realized that for God all things were possible (Mt. 19:26).
When our sin seemed too large of a debt, Jesus paid it all. When the penalty of sin meant death, Jesus died in our place. When it seemed like our King was dead and gone, Jesus rose from the grave. When it appeared as though Jesus left us, the Holy Spirit filled us.
No matter the forecast or weather, the circumstances or the lack of expectations, our God is able to break through with the power of the resurrection. God is still raising dead things to life, healing broken people, uniting divided groups, empowering the overlooked, and saving those who are stuck, lost, and in need.
God is still doing the miraculous and the proof is all around us. Whether it be snow cones being the top seller at a cold Easter Egg event or divided relationships offering forgiveness and being restored. Whether it be the sun shining through the rainy forecast or troubling thoughts storming in our minds being calmed by the peace of God’s presence, God is at work in making all things good.
All we need to do is show up and believe that the Son will breakthrough the rain and clouds. Why? Because God did it at Creation, God did it at the Incarnation, God did it at the Crucifixion, God did it at the Resurrection, and God continues to do it in our lives.
So here’s my encouragement for you this weekend: show up and believe the Son will break through. There may be rain, there may be clouds, there may be storms you are facing, but there’s also resurrection power.
And when we show up and receive the power of God’s resurrection beautiful things happen:
When Mary and Martha came to find an empty grave, Mary was called by name and sent as an evangelist to proclaim the resurrection to the disciples (John 20:11-18).
When Thomas joined the disciples and still had his doubts, Jesus appeared to him and overcame those fears as Thomas made the greatest proclamation “My Lord and my God!” (John 20:24-29).
When Jesus commissioned the disciples to go and preach the Gospel to all the world, He promised them His Presence and signs and wonders that would accompany them. And it happened just as Jesus promised (Mark 16:15-20)!
When Jesus met two depressed disciples on the road who were fixated on a king that they thought would overcome Rome, He revealed the truth of the Messiah to them through the Scriptures and Communion, and it led to them being sent as worshippers of God and witnesses of His Good News (Luke 24:13-49).
When Jesus gave His disciples the Great Commission in Matthew 28, He spoke it to both those who doubted and those who worshipped (Mt. 28:17), proving that His call is for all and that He’s able to break through the storms of doubt and the waves of worship.
Time and time again, Jesus shows up and when we receive the power of His resurrection we will find that the forecasts, the weather, and the storms around us and within us are met by a greater power. And that power is what fills us to continue forward even when we don’t feel like it, even when it doesn’t look good, and even when all seems lost and impossible.
When we show up and receive the power of the resurrection, wonderful things happen. Lives are changed, miracles take place, and the Son breaks through every storm and rainy day with a new forecast: abundant and eternal life.
This weekend, there may be a rainy forecast. That overcast weather may be happening on the outside or it may be tumultuous on the inside. All I know is that this weekend we celebrate the FACT that our Savior King rose from the darkest grave and broke through the storms with light, life, love, and liberty for all. Don’t let the forecast and weather you may be experiencing hinder you from experiencing, remembering, celebrating, and being transformed by the power of our Lord’s death and resurrection. Our God is still able, our God is still willing, and our God is still moving.
It may be rainy, but there’s a 100% chance of resurrection.
“23 Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful. 24 And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, 25 not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching.” Hebrews 10:23-25 (NIV)
