Easter, the Resurrection of Jesus Christ

Easter marks the Resurrection of Christ, and thereby the potential for resurrection among all the Sons and Daughters of God. "Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater works than these shall he do; because I go unto my Father."—John 14:12.
  From time immemorial, man has feared death because he does not understand it. The chief problem lies in believing that you are your body and the body is you; yet nothing is further from the truth. You are a soul who has a body that you use for this interlude called an earth life. You are a soul using a body as its current vehicle, for the purpose of being able to exist in this physical rate of vibration. Existence is not life eternal or immortality.
  Jesus Christ is our living ensample of Eternal Life. As St. Paul wrote to the Church in Corinth, "O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory? The sting of death is sin; and the strength of sin is the law. But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ."—1 Corinthians 15:55-57.
  On the Via Christa, Easter marks an evaluation date. In walking the Way of Christ, after crucifying the self, you are resurrected from your old life and ways of being and doing, and become responsible for releasing greater Light than before. The Power you release is doubled if your sacrifices of self during Lent were more than sufficient, and you conquer self in joy and rejoicing.
  From Easter, Power is redoubled again in preparation for Ascension Day, which commemorates Christ's Ascension to our Father in Heaven. Pondering what ascension means pays the greatest dividends of the whole year in illumination. Only illumination from the Source dissolves the mists of matter, the illusions that lie between earth and the different realms of heaven, which veil the mysteries of the universe, lest too much Power destroys you.






Edna Lister on Easter to Ascension Day

Easter marks the Resurrection of Christ, and is an evaluation date. After crucifying the self, you are resurrected from your old life and become responsible for releasing greater Light than before. The Power you release is doubled if your sacrifices of self during Lent were more than sufficient, and you conquer self in joy and rejoicing.
  From Easter, Power is redoubled again in preparation for Ascension Day, which commemorates Christ's Ascension to our Father in Heaven. Pondering what ascension means pays the greatest dividends of the whole year in illumination. Only illumination from the Source dissolves the mists of matter, the illusions that lie between earth and the different realms of heaven, which veil the mysteries of the universe, lest too much Power destroys you.—Edna Lister, The Twelfth Night Chart.


Easter is a time of great advancement and confirmation. During Holy Week, you are open to greater inspiration, revelation and illumination. You must awaken and arise, for desire bursts forth in flame and glory. Power is released. Whatever originates in the deathless soul can be done. What you may not do, cannot afford to do is to commit blasphemy against your inner soul, which self blackmails into paralysis. Your affirmations must give outer consent to what your real being is.—Edna Lister, The Second Coming, March 15, 1935.


Am I blaming others or myself? If I am, I must place myself high above earth for purification.
Am I willing to pay the debts of my family, friends, of all others?
Am I ready to be ever responsible for all about me?
Am I asking credits for my service, for doing what is a duty?
Am I truly free of self?
Do I live by soul?
—Edna Lister, Easter Questionnaire, March 28, 1947.


Am I ready to assume full responsibility for my family and friends?
Am I ready to lift them constantly and let Light move forth through me to pay their debts?
Am I ready to assume all blame for all disobedience about me?
Am I always ready to lift silently the one disobeying?
Am I seeking praise?
Am I desiring credit for service, inner or outer?
Am I ready to serve in silence?
Am I always obedient to all laws?
Is my faith unconquerable, my courage unshakable and unalterable?
—Edna Lister, Easter Questionnaire, April 4, 1947.


Edna Lister’s Sermons on Easter to Ascension Day

Divine Intelligence: Edna Lister outline, November 23, 1934.

Eternal Life: Edna Lister outline, April 21, 1935.

Christ Is With Us: Edna Lister outline, April 12, 1936.

The Crowned King: Edna Lister outline, April 17, 1938.

Roll Away the Stone: Edna Lister outline, April 5, 1942.

Trailing Robes of Glory: Edna Lister outline, March 25, 1945.

Trailing Robes of Glory: Edna Lister transcript, March 25, 1945.

Trailing Robes of Glory: Edna Lister outline, April 1, 1945.

Eternal Life: Edna Lister outline, April 6, 1947.

Alive in Easter Glory: Edna Lister outline, April 17, 1960.

Integrity: Your Great Anchor: Edna Lister outline, April 22, 1962.

Integrity: Your Great Anchor: Edna Lister transcript, April 22, 1962.

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Easter in the New Testament

Matthew's Account of the Resurrection: In the end of the Sabbath, as it began to dawn toward the first day of the week, came Mary Magdalene and the other Mary to see the sepulcher. And, behold, there was a great earthquake: for the angel of the Lord descended from heaven, and came and rolled back the stone from the door, and sat upon it. His countenance was like lightning, and his raiment white as snow: And for fear of him the keepers did shake, and became as dead men. And the angel answered and said unto the women, Fear not ye: for I know that ye seek Jesus, which was crucified. He is not here: for he is risen, as he said. Come, see the place where the Lord lay. And go quickly, and tell his disciples that he is risen from the dead; and, behold, he goeth before you into Galilee; there shall ye see him: lo, I have told you. And they departed quickly from the sepulcher with fear and great joy; and did run to bring his disciples word. And as they went to tell his disciples, behold, Jesus met them, saying, All hail. And they came and held him by the feet, and worshiped him. Then said Jesus unto them, Be not afraid: go tell my brethren that they go into Galilee, and there shall they see me.—Matthew 28:1-10.

Mark's Account of the Resurrection: When the Sabbath was past, Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James, and Salome, had bought sweet spices, that they might come and anoint him. And very early in the morning the first day of the week, they came unto the sepulcher at the rising of the sun. And they said among themselves, Who shall roll us away the stone from the door of the sepulcher? And when they looked, they saw that the stone was rolled away: for it was very great. And entering into the sepulcher, they saw a young man sitting on the right side, clothed in a long white garment; and they were affrighted. And he saith unto them, Be not affrighted: Ye seek Jesus of Nazareth, which was crucified: he is risen; he is not here: behold the place where they laid him. But go your way, tell his disciples and Peter that he goeth before you into Galilee: there shall ye see him, as he said unto you. And they went out quickly, and fled from the sepulcher; for they trembled and were amazed: neither said they any thing to any man; for they were afraid. Now when Jesus was risen early the first day of the week, he appeared first to Mary Magdalene, out of whom he had cast seven devils. And she went and told them that had been with him, as they mourned and wept. And they, when they had heard that he was alive, and had been seen of her, believed not. After that he appeared in another form unto two of them, as they walked, and went into the country. And they went and told it unto the residue: neither believed they them.—Mark 16:1-13.

Luke's Account of the Resurrection: Now upon the first day of the week, very early in the morning, they came unto the sepulchre, bringing the spices which they had prepared, and certain others with them. And they found the stone rolled away from the sepulchre. And they entered in, and found not the body of the Lord Jesus. And it came to pass, as they were much perplexed thereabout, behold, two men stood by them in shining garments: and as they were afraid, and bowed down their faces to the earth, they said unto them, Why seek ye the living among the dead? He is not here, but is risen: remember how he spake unto you when he was yet in Galilee, saying, The Son of man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men, and be crucified, and the third day rise again. And they remembered his words, and returned from the sepulchre, and told all these things unto the eleven, and to all the rest. It was Mary Magdalene and Joanna, and Mary the mother of James, and other women that were with them, which told these things unto the apostles. And their words seemed to them as idle tales, and they believed them not. Then arose Peter, and ran unto the sepulchre; and stooping down, he beheld the linen clothes laid by themselves, and departed, wondering in himself at that which was come to pass.—Luke 24:1-12.

John's Account of the Resurrection: The first day of the week cometh Mary Magdalene early, when it was yet dark, unto the sepulchre, and seeth the stone taken away from the sepulchre. Then she runneth, and cometh to Simon Peter, and to the other disciple, whom Jesus loved, and saith unto them, They have taken away the Lord out of the sepulchre, and we know not where they have laid him. Peter therefore went forth, and that other disciple, and came to the sepulchre. So they ran both together: and the other disciple did outrun Peter, and came first to the sepulchre. And he stooping down, and looking in, saw the linen clothes lying; yet went he not in. Then cometh Simon Peter following him, and went into the sepulchre, and seeth the linen clothes lie, and the napkin, that was about his head, not lying with the linen clothes, but wrapped together in a place by itself. Then went in also that other disciple, which came first to the sepulchre, and he saw, and believed. For as yet they knew not the scripture, that he must rise again from the dead. Then the disciples went away again unto their own home. But Mary stood without at the sepulchre weeping: and as she wept, she stooped down, and looked into the sepulchre, and seeth two angels in white sitting, the one at the head, and the other at the feet, where the body of Jesus had lain. And they say unto her, Woman, why weepest thou? She saith unto them, Because they have taken away my Lord, and I know not where they have laid him. And when she had thus said, she turned herself back, and saw Jesus standing, and knew not that it was Jesus. Jesus saith unto her, Woman, why weepest thou? whom seekest thou? She, supposing him to be the gardener, saith unto him, Sir, if thou have borne him hence, tell me where thou hast laid him, and I will take him away. Jesus saith unto her, Mary. She turned herself, and saith unto him, Rabboni; which is to say, Master. Jesus saith unto her, Touch me not; for I am not yet ascended to my Father: but go to my brethren, and say unto them, I ascend unto my Father, and your Father; and to my God, and your God. Mary Magdalene came and told the disciples that she had seen the Lord, and that he had spoken these things unto her.—Luke 24:1-12.

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Edna Miriam Lister
1884—1971
The original Pioneering Mystic,
Christian Platonist philosopher, American Idealist, Founder, Society of the Universal Living Christ, minister, teacher, author, wife, and mother.


Edna Lister


References

The Holy Bible. King James Version (KJV).

Webster's Collegiate Dictionary, Third Edition. Springfield, MA: G. & C. Merriam Co., 1929.


Related Topics

Rebirth

Resurrection