Easter Sunday
April 20, 2025
Easter Sunday, Apr 20, 2025
It’s Easter morning, and the church bells are ringing. Today, it’s all about the joy that Christ has risen! Yes, the crucified Christ won over death as he said he would. After his having arisen from the tomb, he appears to those with whom he was very close. For example, he first appears to the three Marys, then over the next 40 days, to his disciples, including Cleopas and his wife Mary, on the road to Emmaus (Luke 24:13-35.) He also appears to over 500 believers gathered by the apostles (Mark 16:7.)
Christ returns to the world and reassures his followers that there is an afterlife and that he is returning to it. But what is this eternal life? He calls it paradise. He refers to this other world as a place of many mansions.
Believing that there is a heaven is one of the most beautiful concepts to embrace. Let’s face it: this life is incomplete for many of us. We leave with unfinished business and regrets. Plus, we have hopes and dreams we have yet to fulfill. But believing in the next life gives us hope that our beings will continue. Hopefully, in heaven we will see our loved ones and we will continue to grow in consciousness. We will have returned to our essence and reunified with the Divine in heaven.
But there is no proof of heaven or the paradise it is said to be — unless that is, we believe the words of the risen Christ, and the eye witness accounts.
We can also believe those who have been pronounced clinically dead and have spontaneously come back to life. Many of these documented cases returned from death to report that they went to the other side while dead and, while there, encountered a being of light. Numerous accounts worldwide of Near-Death Experiences say that the person rises above their body and can actually see their dying or lifeless bodies where they lay. (Near Death Experiences (NDE) is a term coined by philosopher and psychiatrist Raymond Moody, Jr.)
According to Moody’s research, these experiences have common themes across all cultures and religions: The ‘dead’ person maintains their consciousness even after their body registers no life. They experience going down a tunnel at the end of which is a bright light, and in that light, they speak to a being who emanates overwhelming acceptance and love toward them. The person doesn’t want to leave their intensely peaceful feeling and wants to remain on the other side.
However, the being of light insists they return to their lives because it is “not yet their time” and they have more of their lives to complete (see Life After Life, by Raymond Moody Jr. MD.) They suddenly awaken to surprise their doctors, nurses, family, or the attendant in the morgue.
I have known several people who have had NDEs, and they report the same themes but with their own interpretations. What I remember most from their accounts is that the being of light knows everything about their lives and completely accepts and loves the person just as they are. To be known fully and to be completely loved is a profound gift.
Just imagine the hope and peace felt by those who Jesus appeared to after his resurrection.
May this joyous day bring you hope and new life!
