My friend, Sam Riviera, wrote this about how he spent Easter:
Amazing grace,
How sweet the sound.
That saved a wretch like me
I once was lost,
But now am found.
Was blind,
But now I see.
We spent Easter morning with the outcast — the lame, the halt, the thieves, the alcoholics, the drug-addicts, the murderers. We climbed out of our warm beds and headed out into the streets laden with bags of clothes, food and water. We shared what we had with those who had slept under bushes, on the ground and any other place they could find.
Happy Easter! Happy Easter! Almost every person greeted us with “Happy Easter!”
These are supposed to be the people who don’t know Jesus. Yet they know Jesus. They have seen Jesus walking among them. He has danced with them. He loves them. They like Jesus.
Jesus was with them in prison. He visited them there. He was with them in Southeastern Asia when they spent the years rotting away in bamboo cages lowered into holes. He was with them as they walked the streets of America, looking for a place to lay their head. They told us Jesus was with them.
“Grace. It’s all about grace. No matter had bad we screw up, God’s grace is still good. He never forgets us. He’s always there. He’s always been there for me. He’s been there the last eighteen years while I’ve traveled around the country. I don’t have a dime to my name, but I’ve got God’s grace. It’s all about grace. Don’t ever forget that.”
So said the man sitting on the sidewalk on Easter morning. The man with no home. The man with nothing. But he knows that Jesus lives!
“See this mark behind my ear,” said another. That’s where the VC shot me. The bullet came out through my nose. See this big white patch on my thigh” he said, pulling up his pant leg. “That’s where they got the skin to graft onto the left side of my face. Another bullet ripped a big hole there and they had to patch it. God got me through it and He’ll get you through whatever comes your way too.”
We went to give a cup of water, a warm coat. We found Easter. The risen Jesus had been there. The risen Jesus was there, walking among those outcast and despised by the world. He too had been outcast and despised. He knows what it’s like. He walks among those He loves. They see Him. They see the One who was despised, rejected and afflicted. He is one of them.
He is risen!
He is risen indeed!
He walks among His people.
He loves us. Whether we’re thieves, adulterers, liars, cheats, gluttons, alcoholics or murderers, He loves us.
Whether we see Him in a fancy building with stained glass windows or dancing with us in the streets, He’s there. He’s alive.
If you haven’t seen Him, walk with those who do see Him. Perhaps you’ll catch a glimpse. Perhaps He’ll come and sit with you. Perhaps He’ll dance with you.
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What an amazing, beautiful post!
The homeless and penniless on the streets and in the parks seem to know more about the grace of God and the love of Jesus than do most people in our churches!
And He does love us… more than we know, more than we recognize, more than most of us believe.
There is no “if” in God’s love. He doesn’t love us “if…” He just loves.
We didn’t know what to expect going out on the street on Easter morning while the church folks were “at church”. They don’t know what they missed. I can truthfully say this was by far the best Easter “service” I’ve ever been a part of. The presence of Jesus was very real.
Man, just amazing. . . was thinking while reading your post this is best message for Easter. Thanks for making Jesus and following him more than a topic to discuss. Your posts always inspire that it’s easier to see Jesus as real not sitting on my butt. You’re the real deal man.
Thank you Alan. This was from two years ago. This Easter we also spent in the street with the homeless. A little different this year, but just as memorable. We intentionally walked into the middle of a confrontation between a group of angry homeless men and a policeman. Water, fruit, crackers and cookies, shirts and some kindness helped calm down the homeless men.
We serve a risen savior. He’s in the world today.
Know this guy Kevin who lives going into trouble spots bringing food and medicine and Jesus. . . he always signs off his emails “run to the battle”. Finding that choosing to lead myself under into things is hard but good. . . that Jesus is there in the hard places where love is needed.
one of my best “church” and Jesus experiences of late was in a bar with some new friends, we laughed, cared, and prayed together, it was very moving, and Jesus was truly there.
Isn’t it surprising where these kinds of things can happen? Be it in the street, in a bar, in a home or in a church building, Jesus can indeed be there.
Funny how those that went to church then sat around eating an over abundance of food and candy bragged about whatt a beautiful service they saw and heard but some were out on the streets doing a beautiful service. I bet those that were of service took more with them than those that just went to service.
I have started a new job. Walmart. I was there easter morning. It was slow, but the people thst were there and I had some great talks. I rarely see jesus in church. I always feel him when I talk to strangers. All people want is to be seen.
I wonder if many people find it ironic tbey call going to a building and listening a church service?
Like you, we find Jesus out among the people. It doesn’t happen in every encounter, We also find incredible darkness and evil. We know that Jesus walks beside us and keeps us safe.
Ham, chocolate bunnies and church services are nice, sweet and safe. They allow us to pretend that our world is a Disney movie, or something like that. Jesus goes with us to the ugly places, and sometimes there is no place uglier than the hearts of people. Yet, beauty is also there. We see it. It doesn’t look like a Disney movie, but incredible beauty is there.