As we continue through the Easter season, reflecting on Christ’s death and resurrection, today’s reading focuses on the theme of renewal and restoration. Just as Easter marks the renewal of life and hope, our readings today point to spiritual renewal, restoration of relationships, and God’s desire to make all things new.
We start in the book of Isaiah, where the prophet foretells of Israel’s future restoration and renewal. After a time of exile and punishment for their sins, God promises to bring his people back to their homeland and make them prosper again. “For behold, I create new heavens and a new earth, and the former things shall not be remembered or come into mind” (Isaiah 65:17). God will make all things new for his repentant people.
The Psalm also echoes this theme of restoration. “Restore us again, O God of our salvation, and put away your indignation toward us! Will you be angry with us forever?” (Psalm 85:4-5). Though the people had wandered from God, the Psalmist asks for God’s forgiveness and restoration of their relationship.
In the Gospel of John, we read of Jesus’ post-resurrection appearance to his disciples. He finds them hiding in fear and confusion, but breathes on them saying “Receive the Holy Spirit” (John 20:22). After abandoning Jesus at his crucifixion, the disciples are restored and renewed by his forgiveness and the gift of the Spirit. Their broken relationship with Christ is beautifully redeemed.
Finally, in Revelation 21 we get a breathtaking vision of the future restoration of all things. “And he who was seated on the throne said, ‘Behold, I am making all things new'” (Revelation 21:5). In the new heaven and new earth, the curse of sin will be no more, God will dwell with man, and all of creation will be made perfect once again. What an incredible promise!
As you reflect and pray today, consider areas in your spiritual life that may need renewal and refreshment. Just as God restored his people over and over in the Bible, he can breathe new life into dry or broken places in our hearts. Also ponder relationships that may need mending and healing. God specializes in reconciliation and redemption; no failure or mistake is beyond his transformative power. As you walk with Christ today, be open to the Spirit’s work of making all things new.
Old Testament Reading: Isaiah 65:17-25
“For behold, I create new heavens
and a new earth,
and the former things shall not be remembered
or come into mind.
But be glad and rejoice forever
in that which I create;
for behold, I create Jerusalem to be a joy,
and her people to be a gladness.
I will rejoice in Jerusalem
and be glad in my people;
no more shall be heard in it the sound of weeping
and the cry of distress.
No more shall there be in it
an infant who lives but a few days,
or an old man who does not fill out his days,
for the young man shall die a hundred years old,
and the sinner a hundred years old shall be accursed.
They shall build houses and inhabit them;
they shall plant vineyards and eat their fruit.
They shall not build and another inhabit;
they shall not plant and another eat;
for like the days of a tree shall the days of my people be,
and my chosen shall long enjoy the work of their hands.
They shall not labor in vain
or bear children for calamity,
for they shall be the offspring of the blessed of the Lord,
and their descendants with them.
Before they call I will answer;
while they are yet speaking I will hear.
The wolf and the lamb shall graze together;
the lion shall eat straw like the ox,
and dust shall be the serpent’s food.
They shall not hurt or destroy
in all my holy mountain,”
says the Lord.
Psalm Reading: Psalm 85
Lord, you were favorable to your land;
you restored the fortunes of Jacob.
You forgave the iniquity of your people;
you covered all their sin. Selah
You withdrew all your wrath;
you turned from your hot anger.
Restore us again, O God of our salvation,
and put away your indignation toward us!
Will you be angry with us forever?
Will you prolong your anger to all generations?
Will you not revive us again,
that your people may rejoice in you?
Show us your steadfast love, O Lord,
and grant us your salvation.
Let me hear what God the Lord will speak,
for he will speak peace to his people, to his saints;
but let them not turn back to folly.
Surely his salvation is near to those who fear him,
that glory may dwell in our land.
Steadfast love and faithfulness meet;
righteousness and peace kiss each other.
Faithfulness springs up from the ground,
and righteousness looks down from the sky.
Yes, the Lord will give what is good,
and our land will yield its increase.
Righteousness will go before him
and make his footsteps a way.
Gospel Reading: John 20:19-23
On the evening of that day, the first day of the week, the doors being locked where the disciples were for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood among them and said to them, “Peace be with you.” When he had said this, he showed them his hands and his side. Then the disciples were glad when they saw the Lord. Jesus said to them again, “Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, even so I am sending you.” And when he had said this, he breathed on them and said to them, “Receive the Holy Spirit. If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them; if you withhold forgiveness from any, it is withheld.”
New Testament Reading: Revelation 21:1-8
Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and the sea was no more. And I saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man. He will dwell with them, and they will be his people, and God himself will be with them as their God. He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away.”
And he who was seated on the throne said, “Behold, I am making all things new.” Also he said, “Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true.” And he said to me, “It is done! I am the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end. To the thirsty I will give from the spring of the water of life without payment. The one who conquers will have this heritage, and I will be his God and he will be my son. But as for the cowardly, the faithless, the detestable, as for murderers, the sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars, their portion will be in the lake that burns with fire and sulfur, which is the second death.”
On this Easter season day, we are reminded of God’s great promise to make all things new. Through Christ’s death and resurrection, the old passes away and renewal comes. As we walk with God today, may we experience his restorative power in our own lives and look forward to the glorious day when all of creation will be restored perfectly in the new heaven and new earth.