Easter Devotional 2023 - Day 7: Easter is About Going to Church

I was researching Easter traditions for accuracy in writing these devotions and I ran across an article entitled "Top Ten Easter Traditions in America You Need to Try". All of the traditions I have used in this devotional booklet were on the list… no surprises there. Then I saw number ten and I knew it had to go into this little booklet. What was number ten among the top Easter traditions in America that You Need to Try? "Going to Church". Believe it or not… it really was. Have we gotten that far from the roots of Easter, that Church is a tradition to "try out" for Easter? Maybe it’s a bit more than that… See what you think.

Here is Mark’s account:
And very early on the first day of the week, when the sun had risen, they went to the tomb. 3 And they were saying to one another, “Who will roll away the stone for us from the entrance of the tomb?” 4 And looking up, they saw that the stone had been rolled back—it was very large. 5 And entering the tomb, they saw a young man sitting on the right side, dressed in a white robe, and they were alarmed. 6 And he said to them, “Do not be alarmed. You seek Jesus of Nazareth, who was crucified. He has risen; he is not here." (Mk 16:2–6)

Here is how Luke begins his record of the resurrection:
But on the first day of the week, at early dawn, they went to the tomb… (Lk 24:1)

And here is Matthew’s:
Now after the Sabbath, toward the dawn of the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to see the tomb. (Mt 28:1)

And then John’s account:
Now on the first day of the week Mary Magdalene came to the tomb… (Jn 20:1)
All four Gospel accounts have people going to the tomb and finding it empty and all make absolutely certain to give us the time stamp; "the first day of the week." That's Sunday in case you didn’t know (because of our work week we might think of Monday as the first day of the week). Now it's unusual enough to have all four Gospels containing that time stamp - especially John who has unique material around ninety percent of the time. This along with the fact that the rest of the Biblical record going forward shows the church changing its primary meeting day from Saturday to Sunday, gives us a clear picture of what our Sunday gatherings are. (Ac 20:7)

Sunday, as John puts it, is the Lord's Day (Re 1:10). When we meet each Sunday, it is always a celebration of the resurrection of Jesus Christ. Always. Every time.

Our worship here on earth mirrors the worship in heaven - where all are gathered around the throne singing:
“Worthy are you to take the scroll and to open its seals, for you were slain, and by your blood you ransomed people for God from every tribe and language and people and nation, 10 and you have made them a kingdom and priests to our God, and they shall reign on the earth.” (Re 5:9–10)

Christ died for our sin - we are a blood bought ransomed people for God - for God.
He has made us a kingdom and priests to our God… Therefore, we gather to worship the Lamb of God - not only on Easter- but every Lord’s Day.

Are you prepared to worship the risen Christ today?
 
“Death is swallowed up in victory.”
55 “O death, where is your victory? O death, where is your sting?” 56 The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. 57 But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. (1Co 15:54-57)