In a cemetery in Hanover, Germany, is a grave on which were placed huge slabs of granite and marble cemented together and fastened with heavy steel clasps. It belongs to a woman who did not believe in the resurrection of the dead. Yet strangely, she directed in her will that her grave be made so secure that if there were a resurrection, it could not reach her. On the marker were inscribed these words: "This burial place must never be opened." In time, a seed, covered over by the stones, began to grow. Slowly it pushed its way through the soil and out from beneath them. As the trunk enlarged, the great slabs were gradually shifted so that the steel clasps were wrenched from their sockets. A tiny seed had become a tree that had pushed aside the stones.

The dynamic life force contained in that little seed is a faint reflection of the tremendous power of God's creative word that someday will call to life the bodies of all who are in their graves. He will also bring back every person drowned at sea, cremated, or destroyed in some other way. This is no problem to the One who made something out of nothing when He spoke the universe into existence. Unbelief cannot deter the resurrection. But faith in the risen Christ opens the door to blessings that His resurrection guarantees – a glorious new spiritual body and a home in heaven. In new bodies we will be reunited with saved loved ones to live with Jesus throughout all eternity.

– Unknown

Lent part 2

The In most liturgical churches the period of renewal in Lent is marked by fasting and attendance at special worship services. These services include: Ash Wednesday (also each Wednesday through Lent), Holy Week services, Maundy Thursday and Palm Sunday. Communal services are often held during Lent. This is especially appropriate since Lent is the worship of the church, the universal Body of Christ, and not simply a matter of individual piety or sentimentalism.

Lenten services began very early in the history of the church. Both Irenaeus and Terullian refer to it. The early Lent was observed for a very short time. It gradually grew to the forty day observance. At first, a fast of forty hours was observed. The fasting and observance then grew to a week. By 325 A. D., the Council of Nicea recognized forty days of Lent. The Lent then was forty days including Sundays. In the seventh century Lent was observed for 40 days excluding Sundays.

Sources: The Dictionary of Bible and Religion, William Gentz | The Bible Almanac, White

Easter Quotations

Had Christ not risen we could not believe Him to be what He declared Himself when He "made Himself equal with God." But He has risen in the confirmation of all His claims. By it alone, but by it thoroughly, is He manifested as the very Son of God, who has come into the world to reconcile the world to Himself. It is the fundamental fact in the Christian's unwavering confidence in "all the words of this life."

Benjamin B. Warfield

Our Christ has brought us over, with hymns of victory.

St. John of Damascus; The Day of Resurrection