Devotional from Pastor Dave April 3, 2024

For this week’s midweek meditation, I’d like to share with you our bishop’s Easter reflections which she posted on the conference’s website at www.holston.org. She concludes with a question worthy of all our prayerful reflection: “How is the whole story of Jesus’ life, death, and resurrection shaping you?”

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In re-reading the Holy Week narrative this weekend, I was reminded of the importance of knowing the whole story! Indeed, if the Good News stopped with Palm Sunday, we would ask with the crowd, “Who is this?” (Matthew 21:10 NRSV) If it ended with the betrayal, we would be left with the question, “Is it I?” ringing in our ears. (Matthew 26:22 NKJV) If it concluded with Jesus’ crucifixion, the words of Pilate would haunt us. “Why, what evil has he done?” (Matthew 27:23a) But none of these events are the final word about Jesus. Rather, on Easter Sunday 2024 we celebrate the reality that the whole story includes the Resurrection, which changes the trajectory of our lives and world.

Back to the Holy Week narrative as described in the Gospels. It had been a week like no other for Jesus’ disciples. Everything had started out great, with the crowds proclaiming Jesus as their king. As he entered Jerusalem on a donkey they shouted, “Hosanna! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord! Blessed is the king of Israel!” (John 12:12-13 NRSV) What a high moment!

However, this only added to the tension that already existed between Jesus and the leaders of the day. One thing led to another and by Thursday evening, the chain of events that would result in Jesus’ death was set off when Judas Iscariot, one of Jesus’ disciples and close friends, led the Roman soldiers to the Garden of Gethsemane where Jesus was praying. The betrayal resulted in Jesus’ arrest followed by the false accusations, trial, torture, and crucifixion in the course of 24 hours. After his death on the cross, Jesus was placed in a new tomb owned by Joseph of Arimathea.

Praise God, the story did not stop with the burial, though. Instead, on the third day, Jesus’ followers discovered that the tomb was empty, and Jesus had risen from the dead! They even had the opportunity to converse with their Risen Savior on several occasions during the forty days between his Resurrection and Ascension to heaven. In that period, they began to understand the whole story, including a more complete meaning of Jesus’ life and teachings.

The whole story continues to unfold today. The Risen Jesus is accessible to us through the Holy Spirit 24/7 . . . offers grace upon grace for the missteps, wrong turns and sin in our lives . . . loves us unconditionally . . . and is continually transforming his followers into faithful disciples who make a difference in the world. The whole story runs like a thread through every aspect of the lives of his followers, from start to finish.

Here is a question I invite you to join me in asking as we consider the whole story this Easter season. “How is the whole story of Jesus’ life, death, and resurrection shaping you?” May we gain a fresh perspective on our current reality as well as our hopes for the future by reflecting on the whole story of Jesus.

As always, it is a joy to serve as your bishop.

Blessings,

Debra Wallace-Padgett

Resident Bishop

Holston and North Alabama Conferences