Three Days That Changed the World

Easter was the highlight of the church year in the early centuries.  While the birth of Jesus was recognized it was not celebrated to the extent as was his death and resurrection. Today, churches will have Maundy Thursday meals, Good Friday prayer and sunrise, and multiple services on Easter in a corporate showing of praise and thanksgiving.  For me, each Easter is a personal reminder of God’s love for me when it was not deserved.

I at one time struggled with the concept of “Good Friday” knowing that Jesus suffered a horrific death.  Realizing that this was God’s plan and that Resurrection Sunday was coming three days later it became clear that the sacrifice on Friday was not only Good but worth singing the Hallelujah Chorus.

There is a practical application to the Easter story that Jeanne and I apply in our lives: The Three Day Rule.  When there is a looming personal challenge, a business decision, or a personal conflict that needs to be resolved, we look to God’s Easter model.  We will talk, think, pray and look at alternatives for three days before making a response or decision….the equivalent of Good Friday to Resurrection Sunday.  We have found that issues that often seem to be unresolvable on day one (Friday) have a way of working out by day 3 (Sunday) with positive outcomes.

How I regret the many times I made an immediate decision to a tough problem or gave a hurtful answer in response to a critique or unkind word from another before I found this approach.  The flesh wants to be in control, and take charge of the answer and resolution.  That three days allows us to ask the Holy Spirit for counsel and direction so that our answer will honor God.

Making that confession of faith that Jesus died for our sins and rose to be with the Father requires me and others to “put off our old self and way of thinking and put on the new.”  We can begin to frame our lives and responses according to God’s plan not ours.

May you enjoy your Easter knowing the goodness of God.