Resurrection Sunday – Easter!

For Resurrection Sunday, April 5, 2026:

He is Risen! He is Risen Indeed!

Matthew 28:6 NLT, an Angel speaking: “Jesus isn’t here! He is risen from the dead, just as he said would happen.”

According to Jewish tradition of that time, women would prepare a body for its final resting place. So it’s logical that Mary Magdalene, from whom Jesus had cast out seven demons, would be the first to show up, along with the other Mary, mother of James and Joseph. They had been frightened by a sound like an earthquake, made by this gigantic angel descending to earth and rolling away the humongous stone from the tomb. The angel sat on the stone, as if to make a point!

By this time, most believers had given up. Jesus died three days ago. We saw the spear in his side. We watched as his limp body was placed in the tomb. No one person could move the stone sealing the burial place. Besides, it was being guarded by Pilate’s soldiers.

When the women arrived to tend to the body, they were confronted by the angel sitting on the stone that no one could move. “Don’t be afraid!” he said, always an angel’s first words. You should know that angels aren’t those cute little figurines that you see at Hallmark. ‘Angel Army of Heaven’ would be a better way to put it. Big, hairy audacious angels. (I don’t know if they’re hairy; it just sounded cool…) “I know you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified. He isn’t here! He is risen from the dead, just as he said would happen.” Mark this down as one more time that prophecy turned out to be true, that Jesus’ words were synonymous truth!

The angel further instructs the women: “Now, go quickly and tell his disciples that he has risen from the dead, and he is going ahead of you to Galilee. You will see him there.”

The women took off immediately, but suddenly encountered Jesus along the way. “Go tell my brothers to leave for Galilee, and they will see me there.”

Jesus conquered sin and death with the same event! Repentant believers are snatched from Satan’s hand and granted eternal life in God’s eternal heavenly Kingdom. And death is not the end. Believers are born again!

Pastor Norton Lawellin

The Father’s House

Jesus In the City Fellowship

Truth & Freedom Church

He is Risen!

Happy Easter Sunday, April 20, 2025:

John 20:8-9 NLT: “The disciple (John) who had reached the tomb before Simon Peter also went in, and he saw and believed—for until then they still hadn’t understood the Scriptures that said Jesus must rise from the dead.”

To the Jews – even those who had been with Jesus – this “rising from the dead” was something new. They’d heard talk about it, but it was sort of like a fable or a fairy tale. No one had actually been an eyewitness to a well-known public figure having a second life. That’s about to change!

Mary Magdalene, first to arrive at Jesus’ tomb Sunday morning, noticed the stone had been rolled away. Simon Peter and John began a foot race to get to the tomb. John arrived next and saw the linen wrappings lying there, empty. Then Simon Peter then entered and saw the head wrapping, folded up neatly, separate from the other grave clothes. No doubt about it – Jesus had gone missing!

Mary then encountered two white-robed angels at the head and foot of where the body had once lain. “They have taken away my Lord and I don’t know where they have put him.”

Now Mary knew Jesus as well as anyone, but when a voice in the garden addressed her, she didn’t recognize him. After all, the last time she saw him, he was certified dead. But it turns out this was Jesus, now risen from the dead! “Mary,” verbalized the gardener, and then she knew.

“Rabboni!” she cried out, which means “Teacher.”

Jesus appeared to more than 500 people total, on at least 12 different occasions, including Apostles, disciples and other believers. These are the eyewitnesses who would go on to testify that in fact the once dead Jesus had risen again! They could communicate that Jesus of Nazareth was indeed the Son of the Living God! They could perpetuate the truth that Jesus had conquered sin and death, benefiting all mankind!

Help them share the Good News!

Pastor Norton Lawellin

Jesus In the City Fellowship

Celebration!

For Wednesday, March 19, 2025:

Leviticus 23:1, 2b NLT: The Lord instructed Moses, “These are the Lord’s appointed festivals, which you are to proclaim as official days for holy assembly.”

The first festival appointed by the Lord is kind of a surprise. It’s the weekly celebration of the seventh day or Sabbath. Jews worship from sundown Friday until sundown Saturday. Christians worship on Sunday, the third day after the crucifixion, when Jesus was resurrected. He conquered sin and death on that same day, events worthy of celebration!

Celebrating Passover is a big Jewish deal. It commemorates God rescuing the Israelites from slavery in Egypt. God says that remembering Passover should continue for all time. First Harvest and Harvest acknowledge the God of Provision’s goodness. The Day of Atonement is when sins are confessed and taken away. The Festival of Shelters celebrates construction of the Tabernacle and God living amongst His people.

Christians celebrate Christmas when Jesus came to earth to ultimately rescue mankind. Good Friday is the crucifixion day when Jesus died and took the sins of the world to the place of the dead. Easter or Resurrection Sunday is when Jesus arose from that place of the dead, leaving our sin behind! Pentecost is considered the birthday of the church.

It’s good to gather with our church friends to celebrate the goodness of Father God, His Son our Redeemer and the Holy Spirit, our helper and advocate. Look forward to each Holy Day!

Pastor Norton Lawellin

Jesus In the City Fellowship

Sunday's Coming!

For Saturday, March 30, 2024:

Mark 15:43 NLT: “Joseph of Arimathea took a risk and went to Pilate and asked for Jesus’ body. (Joseph was an honored member of the high council, and he was waiting for the Kingdom of God to come.)”

It was still Friday when Joseph of Arimathea, secretly a believer, asked for Jesus’ body. When a soldier confirmed the death, Pilate granted his request. There was just enough time to place Jesus’ body in Joseph’s tomb, and secure it before the weekend. At sundown, it would be the Sabbath, and no more work could be done.

Nowadays we count a new day when the sun rises. But in the Hebrew culture, a new day began at sunset. So Jesus died on a Friday, day one. His body lay in the grave for the Sabbath, day two. And on Sunday, day three, the tomb was discovered empty. He is risen, just as was prophesied!

But what happened on the Sabbath, the in-between day? The Bible tells us that Jesus went to the place of the dead, Sheol or Hades, not to be confused with the lake of fire or hell. This would be Jesus’ spirit, his eternal essence, as the body had not yet been resurrected. There are many conflicting theories as to what occurred that day, but I don’t find most of them to be credible. Since the second day is the Sabbath, we could simply count it as a day of rest and devotion to Jesus and our Lord. Nothing on that in-between day is a redeeming ordinance. The real action was on Friday when Jesus died for our sins, and on Sunday when the bodily resurrection took place.

It seems that all the bad stuff happened during the previous week, and all the good stuff occurred from Resurrection Sunday forward. S. M. Lockridge gave us a famous sermon, “It’s Friday, but Sunday’s coming!” Our worldly walk looks much brighter knowing that in spite of all we might think is wrong, God is still in charge, and Sunday’s coming for us all!

Norton Lawellin

Jesus In the City Fellowship

Resurrection Sunday!

For Resurrection Sunday, April 9, 2023:

Mark 16:6 NLT: “The angel (sitting in Jesus’ tomb) said, ‘Don’t be alarmed. You are looking for Jesus of Nazareth, who was crucified. He isn’t here! He is risen from the dead!’”

Some call it Easter, but I prefer Resurrection Sunday. That clearly states what happened on that wonderful day. It was day three, and just as prophesied, Jesus rose from the dead! Jesus always spoke the truth, and this is no exception. He proved to us that there is life after this life, and through faith in Jesus, that life is available to all who believe, and that’s Good News!

I love what the angel said: “Why are you looking among the dead for someone who is alive? He isn’t here! He is risen from the dead! Didn’t he tell you?” The resurrection is always stated in present tense: He IS risen, not he WAS risen. Jesus is still alive today!

Women would traditionally anoint a body with spices for burial, which is why the women were the first to learn of the resurrection. They told the disciples, and Simon Peter immediately took off running to see for himself. Jesus promised to meet everyone in Galilee.

He is risen! He is risen indeed!

Pastor Norton Lawellin

Jesus in the City Fellowship

Resurrection Sunday!

For Resurrection Sunday, April 17, 2022:

Matthew 28:2 NLT: “Early on Sunday morning, there was a great earthquake! For an angel of the Lord came down from heaven, rolled aside the stone, and sat on it.”

The weight of the stone and the ferocity of the Roman guards were no match for God’s angel! He rolled the stone away from Jesus’ tomb, and then sat on it!

This was the first Easter Sunday morning. Two women had come to tend to Jesus’ body, but the angel told them, “He isn’t here! He is risen from the dead, just as he said would happen. Now, go quickly and tell his disciples.”

We now know that Jesus had returned from the place of the dead, having left the sins of the world there. And now death could not hold him! Jesus conquered sin and death on the same day! Everything played out just as he predicted! Everything Jesus said became truth!

Happy Easter!

Pastor Norton Lawellin

Jesus in the City Fellowship, 3249 30th Ave. S., Minneapolis, MN 55406

Resurrection Sunday!

For Easter Sunday, April 4, 2021

Luke 24:5b-6 NLT: “Why are you looking among the dead for someone who is alive? He isn’t here! He is risen from the dead! Remember what he told you back in Galilee!”

It’s Resurrection Sunday! In Hebrew tradition, a part of a day counts as a full day. Jesus died on Good Friday, day #1. Saturday, the Sabbath, was day #2. And on Sunday, the 3^rd day, Jesus rose from the dead, just as he himself had predicted!

Later that day, people saw him up, out and walking around. Over the next weeks, hundreds of people saw Jesus and listened to him speak. These are credible eyewitnesses, and we have no reason to doubt their testimony!

He is risen – He is risen indeed!

Blessings and safety to all today! Happy Easter!

Pastor Norton Lawellin

Jesus in the City Fellowship, 3249 30th Ave. S., Minneapolis, MN 55406

Sabbath - Day of Rest!

For Saturday, April 3, 2021

Luke 23:53-54 NLT: “Joseph of Arimathea took the body of Jesus down from the cross and wrapped it in a long sheet of linen cloth and laid it in a new tomb that had been carved out of rock. This was done late on Friday afternoon, the day of preparation, as the Sabbath was about to begin.”

And that’s where we find ourselves today, the traditional Jewish Sabbath. No work was to be done on the Sabbath, which is why Jesus’ body was secured just before sundown on Friday. His friends would not perform the rest of the burial ritual until Sunday, because Saturday was a day of rest. God said so.

Even though access to the tomb was blocked by both a giant stone and several Roman soldiers, Sunday found the stone cast aside and the body absent. Turns out that Jesus’ word was good! He rose from the grave on the third day, just as he predicted! Death could not hold him, and that’s Good News for us too!

Don’t constrain God by assigning human limitations – God is much bigger than that!

Blessings and safety to all today! Happy Easter!

Pastor Norton Lawellin

Jesus in the City Fellowship, 3249 30th Ave. S., Minneapolis, MN 55406

Jesus vs Death!

For Wednesday, March 31, 2021

Mark 14:28 NLT, Jesus speaking: “After I am raised from the dead, I will go ahead of you to Galilee and meet you there.”

We’re in “Holy Week” - Tomorrow is Maundy Thursday, then Good Friday, and finally Resurrection Sunday, Easter!

In this scripture, Jesus, who knows the future, is speaking about what he will do after the arrest, after the trial, after his crucifixion, and after being placed in a tomb. Can you imagine anyone telling you the things they intend to accomplish after they die?

But Jesus was no ordinary man! God sent him on a mission trip to rescue mankind from their perpetual sin problem. Jesus was about to take the sin of the world to the place of the dead, and then personally rise from the grave. And as followers of Jesus, we’re filed with hope knowing that death is not the end!

On Easter, Christians shout, “He is risen! He is risen indeed!”

Blessings and safety today!

Pastor Norton Lawellin

Jesus in the City Fellowship, 3249 30th Ave. S., Minneapolis, MN 55406

Sunday's Comin'!

For Saturday, March 6, 2021

John 14:19b NIV, Jesus speaking: “Because I live, you also will live.”

Jesus knows what's coming – He can see into the future. He's explaining that soon he'll be going away, but it's not all bad! Death is not the end! In three days, Jesus expects full and complete resurrection; the tomb will be empty, and Jesus will once again be alive, walking and talking with his friends. He has hope, and he wants all the believers to have that same hope. “Because I live, you also will live!” Life-after-this-life is for ALL believers!

I'm reminded of a famous sermon by Tony Campolo - “It's Friday, but Sunday's Comin'!” The point being that as bad as things looked for Jesus on Good Friday, Sunday was coming! Things would not only get a little better; it would be a complete 180º turn of events! And the same thing is true for all of us! No matter how bleak things look at any given time, hope is always on the horizon! The sun WILL come up tomorrow!

Friday may look bad, but we have hope – Sunday's Comin'!

Blessings and safety today!

Pastor Norton Lawellin

Jesus in the City Fellowship, 3249 30th Ave. S., Minneapolis, MN 55406

He is Risen!

April 13, 2020 Monday Message:

“The women went into the tomb, but they didn’t find the body of the Lord Jesus.” Luke 24:3 NLT

So let’s look at the events that lead up to this. Jesus hosted the Last Supper – the Passover meal with his followers - on Thursday. Next, Judas betrayed Jesus, pointing him out to the soldiers. Jesus was sent before Pilate, then the torture, and ultimately Jesus was crucified on Friday, died about 3pm, and was placed in a tomb. The sky went dark and there was a terrible earthquake – so all the earth knew something had gone terribly wrong.

Here’s where days-of-the-week really matter. Nowadays, we record a day-change right after midnight. But 2,000 years ago, in the Hebrew culture, the change-of-day happened at sundown, and traditionally any portion of a day counted as a full day. Therefore Jesus died on Friday, the first day. Saturday, day two, was the Sabbath, the Jewish Holy day when no work could be done.

Which brings us to Sunday, the third day. As was traditional, the women returned with special spices for burial. But they found the stone rolled away and the tomb empty, just as Jesus himself prophesied: “For as Jonah was three days and three nights in the belly of a huge fish, so the Son of Man will be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth.” Matthew 12:40

The women at the tomb saw two brightly lit men, probably angels, who asked them, ““Why are you looking for the Living One in a cemetery? He is not here, but raised up. Remember how he told you when you were still back in Galilee that he had to be handed over to sinners, be killed on a cross, and in three days rise up?” Then they remembered Jesus’ words.” from Luke 24:5-8 MSG

When Jesus died on the cross, he took the sins of the world upon himself, and put garments of white on all believers. Jesus conquered sin and death on the same day that we call Easter, which means spring, which represents new life. Some Christians call it Resurrection Sunday, which points to the born-again new life given to all believers by Jesus! Hallelujah!

Norton Lawellin, Worship Pastor

Jesus in the City Fellowship.

3249 30th Ave. S., Minneapolis, MN 55406