From noon until three in the afternoon darkness came over all the land. About three in the afternoon Jesus cried out in a loud voice, “Eli, Eli, lema sabachthani?” (which means “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?”). And when Jesus had cried out again in a loud voice, he gave up his spirit. At that moment the curtain of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom. The earth shook, the rocks split and the tombs broke open. The bodies of many holy people who had died were raised to life. They came out of the tombs after Jesus’ resurrection and went into the holy city and appeared to many people. When the centurion and those with him who were guarding Jesus saw the earthquake and all that had happened, they were terrified, and exclaimed, “Surely he was the Son of God!”

–Parallel verses:
Ephesians‬ ‭1‬:‭18‬-‭21‬
I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in his holy people, and his incomparably great power for us who believe. That power is the same as the mighty strength he exerted when he raised Christ from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly realms, far above all rule and authority, power and dominion, and every name that is invoked, not only in the present age but also in the one to come.

Fireworks are a fun display of light in the sky we use to celebrate something very important, usually monumental, that has occurred in the history of our nation. We light off fireworks mainly in celebration of the 4th of July. This was our Independence Day from the tyranny of the British. This is what I love about fireworks: the sound, the smell of gunpowder, the explosion, the colorful lights, and the way they light up the darkness! They can be choreographed to music and it is an even more heightened experience! Some fireworks even have a multiplied explosion effect: they explode on launching, they explode once in the sky, and then, seconds later, other mini explosions of light happen all over the place!

When we read about the events that happened after Jesus’ crucifixion, we find that God wanted to get everyone’s attention. The earth was dark for 3 hours in the middle of the day, while he hung on the cross and was dying. An earthquake happened right afterwards. The thick curtain that separated the Holy of Holies (the place where God met with the high priest once a year) in the temple was torn in two. Many dead bodies of holy people were raised to life and many people in Jerusalem saw them. Then, Jesus rose on the third day in triumphal fashion! The Roman guards were stunned by the event, they were rendered helpless. The stone was rolled away. And the grave clothes were still there. And finally he appeared to over 300 people and ascended into heaven in the clouds in front of a crowd of witnesses. These are God’s fireworks and they highlighted for all to see his coming resurrection. They also serve as markers for believers and unbelievers alike throughout the ages that Jesus Lives, Jesus Is Risen, and Jesus Saves and Redeems Us!

So this Easter, as we think about all we have been given in Christ, it is monumental! And we can see the fireworks God “lite off” to highlight and celebrate this amazing sacrifice for all time! And he wants to light off his fireworks in our lives too! The same power that raised Jesus from the dead and light off all of those fireworks — IT IS ALIVE IN HIS FOLLOWERS, my friends! If we repent of our sins and accept Jesus into our hearts as Lord and Savior; we have the power, in obedience to his Word and his ways, to light off the fireworks of the eternal God! To dispel Darkness with his Wonderful Light!

So what do we celebrate on Easter? We celebrate not only the resurrection of Christ as an historical event, but we celebrate the Living Christ Jesus! He is Alive and he is Coming Again! And what will it look like? If I know God at all, I think we shall see lots of His Fireworks to light up the world and call attention again to the Second Coming of His Son!
We must keep our eyes open and prepare our hearts for his Spirit to work in us and help us see clearly!

Lord, I glorify and highly praise your name on Easter! May your name be forever praised and may your Kingdom expand and thrive in my days!