Announcing Easter

EASTER FOR ALL AGES

ANNOUNCING EASTER

By Bob Allen

An Easter Reading for Four Voices from the Synoptic Gospels

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VOICE FOUR:          He is risen!

VOICE THREE:        He is risen indeed!

VOICE ONE:             We have seen the Lord.

VOICE TWO:            Was not our heart stirred within us?

VOICE FOUR:          Now will you restore the kingdom to Israel?

VOICE THREE:        Joy!

VOICE ONE:             Excitement.

VOICE FOUR:          Frustration.

VOICE TWO:            James and John knew they had been promised power, but they still                                                 thought the power was somehow related to sitting on thrones at the                                    right and left hands of Christ. 

VOICE THREE:        Thomas knew Christ had promised to give him joy—but he still                                           struggled with his old attitudes of pessimism and doubt.

VOICE FOUR:          Andrew remembered the promise of peace, yet they still met                                               behind closed and locked doors for fear of the Jews.

VOICE ONE:             For forty days, between Easter and the Ascension, the disciples                                          knew the facts of the resurrection, they had received the promise of                                    the Holy Spirit, yet they continued restless, purposeless, uncertain                                               and perplexed.

VOICE TWO:            They possessed the truth that would change the world, and they                                         went back to fishing.

VOICE THREE:        That was where Jesus had found many of them at the beginning of                                                 His ministry.

VOICE FOUR:          They needed to learn one more important lesson, their last lesson                                         in a series of memorable lessons.  It would be their commencement                                address, their marching orders, their great commission.

VOICE ONE:             All power!

VOICE TWO:            Every supply of strength, every source of authority, every                                                    capability for service they ever needed would come from the                                               inexhaustible reserve of Christ’s omnipotent power.

VOICE ONE:             Is given unto Me.

VOICE THREE:        The One who had been raised from the dead by the mighty power                                      of God the Father, authenticated by that resurrection as King of                                              kings and Lord of lords before Whom every knee would bow, Who                           was ascending to sit at the right hand of His Father in majesty—                                            Christ, and Christ alone possessed the power they needed.

VOICE ONE:             In heaven and in earth.

VOICE FOUR:          He would return to heaven, ascending in the clouds out of                                                   their sight.  They would remain on earth—but the same power                                             seated on the throne of God, eternal in the heavenlies, would be                                        present on earth.  They would have His power to finish the work                                             He had begun and was now giving them to complete.

VOICE ONE:             Go ye therefore.

VOICE TWO:                        Everywhere!  As you are going!  Without limits!

VOICE ONE:             Teach all nations.

VOICE THREE:        Everyone!  All the people groups!  Without exception!

VOICE ONE:             Baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son and of the                                   Holy Ghost.

VOICE FOUR:          Following His example!  Identified with His Body!  Testifying to a                                    transformed life!

VOICE ONE:             Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded                                     you.

VOICE TWO:                        Knowing God!  Obeying God!  Without reserve!

ALL:                           And lo, I am with you

VOICES ONE/TWO: I AM

VOICES THREE/FOUR:      With you

VOICE ONE:             Even unto the end of the world.

ALL:                           Amen!