Hello my friends, Ann here.

I have missed you! But I did so enjoy the beautiful, thoughtful posts that Jeanne shared with us over the last three weeks. 

And now to a new theme:

This week the church across the world commemorates the crucifixion and the resurrection of JESUS. Here at SUM, we always do the same.

Often at Easter time, we as a community take a trek through the story of Jesus's last week in Jerusalem. But this year I want to do something a little different: Each of us writers is going to write a post about the RISEN JESUS, and what he means to us.

Who is he?

How have we each encountered him?

What imagery does scripture show us about him?

He is the sword that sits between us and our spouse. He is the truth that we debate with our spouse. He is the lover of our soul who our spouse often feels they compete with.

He is the person whom other religions deny. Yet he is the only religious leader who ever died for their followers.

JESUS.

I don't know if it's like this for you, but for me he is elusive; though I know him. He is mysterious to me. I ask myself questions like, "What do you look like?" Or, "Why can't you just come and sit down on the couch next to me?" Or, "Why don't you appear to me in the flesh so that I can find you more real than I do now?"

I feel like I have to pursue him, even though I know that he pursues me.

And I love the fact that the Old Testament points to him, miraculously, over and over, in the most genius ways.

What does he look like?

.. One like the Son of Man, clothed with a garment down to the feet and girded about the chest with a golden band. His head and hair were white like wool, as white as snow, and His eyes like a flame of fire; His feet were like fine brass, as if refined in a furnace, and His voice as the sound of many waters; He had in His right hand seven stars, out of His mouth went a sharp two-edged sword, and His countenance was like the sun shining in its strength.

And when I saw Him, I fell at His feet as dead. But He laid His right hand on me, saying to me "Do not be afraid; I am the First and the Last." (Revelation 1:13-17, NKJV)

Ah, that's what He looks like. Man I wish I could have seen this image for myself.

Well, tomorrow I'm going to carry on and share some personal reflections on times I perceive that I've encountered the risen Jesus.

And you? What does it look like having the risen Jesus in your life?

Back tomorrow, dear SUMites.

Ann