This is a letter I wrote to some pastoral friends as they were preparing for preaching Easter service. I offer it as an encouragement for other pastors as well. There is no higher honor, no greater priviledge, no greater gifts required than to open up the Word of the Living God to human beings and declare the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Because He lives, everything has changed.
Beloved Brothers:
You have now been given the tremendous honor of preaching the unsearchable riches of Jesus Christ on Resurrection Sunday! I am praying for you. I am so proud of you on this “Easter eve.”
I will always remember, as a young fellow in Louisiana, seeing, on Easter Sundays, the little Episcopal church processionals out into the old church yards, past the moss laden, crumbling head stones, through the rows of grey-white mausoleums ,and there staking out a golden cross, which stood prominent and victorious-like over all of the other somber scenery. And there, in that place, with acolytes and choir, with old men in charcoal suits and young girls in white, frilly Easter dresses, with clergy in white surplices and colorful stoles and with strange fanfare amidst the tombs, the preacher announced “He is Risen!” And I always thought, “Wow. There is no better way to do it, no better place to do it in that that.”
Walk among the tombs tomorrow, Lads, and announce the greatest news ever heard by mortal men. Wake the dead with the news of “Christ has died, Christ is risen, Christ will come again!”
Your names will go up to Jesus Christ in our family worship tonight.
Yours in the Lord,
Mike