Resurrection Sunday | Offer an Expression of Thanksgiving

The challenges and changes we experience are opportunities to draw nearer to the Lord. He wants us to seek His presence. Resurrection Sunday is an open door, an invitation to seek His presence. The stone rolled away so that we could experience more of His goodness no matter the challenges and changes we experience. And we respond with thanksgiving…

Whether you are sitting in a sanctuary or joining online for a Resurrection Sunday service, it is an opportunity to seek His face, responding in a way that pleases the Father’s heart. 

The Passover and Resurrection Sunday Connection

The Passover lamb’s blood was smeared on the wooden doorposts in Egypt to protect and save the firstborn from the plague of death (see Exodus 12). 

The Passover Lamb, Yeshua (1 Corinthians 5:7), poured out His blood on wooden posts in Jerusalem (on the hill of Golgotha, or Calvary) nearly 1500 years after the first Passover. The blood of Jesus was shed so that all who sought refuge under it would pass from death and darkness to light and life. 

“I have come as a light into the world, that whoever believes in Me should not abide in darkness.”

John 12:46

After Christ’s death, He was buried. Three days later, He was raised. This exemplified the hope we have in Him… an everlasting life! This is Resurrection Sunday.

  • “…that Christ died for our sins… and that He was buried, and that He rose again on the third day according to the Scriptures,”—1 Corinthians 15:3-4
  • “Jesus said to her, ‘I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in Me, though he may die, he shall live. And whoever lives and believes in Me shall never die. Do you believe this?’”—John 11:25-26

Through Yeshua, we receive freedom and eternal life. Therefore… 

  • How should Believers respond to the Passover? 
  • How do we respond to Christ’s resurrection?

God’s Word tells us how to respond. There is an invitation to turn our hearts to our Father’s heart.   

Resurrection Sunday | Responding with a Heart that Pleases the Lord

Life’s circumstances can bring challenges and changes. We can respond with a victim mentality or a victor mentality. 

God always wants the hearts of His people to turn to Him in every situation. We will then experience hope and peace in the midst of challenges. 

“And you will seek Me and find Me, when you search for Me with all your heart.”

—Jeremiah 29:13

The Lord always gives us a choice. However, He also makes it clear that when we align our hearts with His and remember His great works, blessings will flow (see Psalm 37:4; 103:1-5).

Click here to donate to future feast offerings, Sow your seed!

Responding to Resurrection Sunday with Preparation 

Jesus told His disciples to “Go and prepare the Passover for us, that we may eat.” Today, the Passover is often referred to as a festival. Although, during Jesus’ time, it was a specific and special meal and offering given during the Feast of Unleavened Bread.

“Then came the Day of Unleavened Bread, when the Passover must be killed. And He sent Peter and John, saying, ‘Go and prepare the Passover for us, that we may eat.’ So they said to Him, ‘Where do You want us to prepare?’ And He said to them, ‘Behold, when you have entered the city, a man will meet you carrying a pitcher of water… Then he will show you a large, furnished upper room; there make ready.’ So they went and found it just as He had said to them, and they prepared the Passover.”

Luke 22:7-10, 12-13 

Jesus told His disciples to go and prepare the Passover offering, one that is to be a meal enjoyed in fellowship with others as they remembered how God led them out of slavery in Egypt.  

Responding to Resurrection Sunday by Seeking His Face

Have you asked Jesus how and where you need to prepare to receive what He has for you during this new season? 

His Spirit may be revealing places in your heart that need to depend on Him more. King David displayed this in his prayers…

“When You said, ‘Seek My face,’ my heart said to You, ‘Your face, Lord, I will seek.’ Do not hide Your face from me; do not turn Your servant away in anger; You have been my help; do not leave me nor forsake me, O God of my salvation.”

Psalm 27:8-9

Even in the midst of changes and challenges, God invites us to seek Him. Have you felt like David, feeling as if God is hiding when you experience disappointments? Follow David’s example and seek Him all the more diligently and desperately. 

Responding to Resurrection Sunday as a Family

The Lord is asking you to prepare a path for your family. 

“A good man leaves an inheritance to his children’s children, but the wealth of the sinner is stored up for the righteous.”

Proverbs 13:22

Passover, or the Feast of Unleavened Bread, was when families gathered around a large table and ate a great feast together. They spent the time celebrating the salvation and freedom they received after years of slavery in Egypt.

 

the sun shining through clouds with words that read" He is risen celebrate the Resurrection"

This celebratory sacrifice was a way to pass on the story and leave a legacy to the next generation. What legacy and lessons do you want to leave with your children and grandchildren?

Responding to Resurrection Sunday with Remembrance 

Jesus told His disciples, when they partook in the Passover meal, to do it “in remembrance.” He was providing a deeper meaning to the Passover feast. Though they didn’t know at the time, this remembrance would be more than they could imagine. 

“Then He took the cup, and gave thanks, and said, ‘…for I say to you, I will not drink of the fruit of the vine until the kingdom of God comes.’ And He took bread, gave thanks and broke it, and gave it to them, saying, ‘This is My body which is given for you; do this in remembrance of Me.’ Likewise He also took the cup after supper, saying, new covenant in My blood, which is shed for you.’”

Luke 22:17-20 

This Resurrection Sunday, remember what Jesus did on the tree of Calvary. Remember, He was there from the foundation of the Earth. Even when your circumstances shift, remember He is unchanging. 

The blood He shed on the cross still speaks “forgiveness” on your behalf from Heaven (see Hebrews 12:24). 

Ask the Holy Spirit what He wants you to put to remembrance. Ask Him to give you eyes to see and a mind to understand how great His love is. 

Responding to Resurrection Sunday with Thanksgiving 

The Passover offering was a type of peace offering. And to narrow it down more, it was a specific type of peace offering referred to as a thanksgiving offering. The worshipper gave this offering, but it was also consumed as part of a feast with his family.

“This is the law of the sacrifice of peace offerings which he shall offer to the Lord: If he offers it for a thanksgiving, then he shall offer, with the sacrifice of thanksgiving, unleavened cakes mixed with oil… The flesh of the sacrifice of his peace offering for thanksgiving shall be eaten the same day it is offered. He shall not leave any of it until morning.”

Leviticus 7:11-12, 15 (emphasis added)

The offering was a large meal that needed to be consumed the same day it was offered. As you can imagine, sacrificing a lamb provided a fair amount of meat. Therefore, the worshipper gathered his family and asked them to dine with him so that the entire sacrifice would be consumed.

The family would ask, “Why are you offering this thanksgiving offering?” (knowing it was a thanksgiving offering because this was the only offering for which the worshipper partook). 

This allowed a chance for the worshipper to proclaim the goodness of the Lord. He might say, “This is what the Lord did for me! He saved me from death, and I am thankful!” 

Consider This on Resurrection Sunday…

What declaration of the Lord’s goodness can you proclaim to your family and friends this year? 

Though we might not be gathered around a single table with all of our family members, we can still share this good news with many. 

Tell your children, grandchildren, spouses, brothers, sisters, and parents about why you are grateful during this time. This is good news everyone needs to hear this season. 

As you can see, the Passover and Christ’s resurrection are rich in history and blessings. It is about remembering that our sin is covered and responding with a thankful heart. 

Bring an offering to the Lord with a cheerful heart full of hope, knowing He has redeemed and saved you from death and destruction. 

Join us for Resurrection Sunday on April 9th, 2023, at 11 AM CT.