What is Easter?/ "He is not here."

Can we imagine for a moment the sadness that most likely overtook the friends of Jesus when he died? What must it have been like for them? Did they really take him at his word and know without even the tiniest doubt that he was going come out of that tomb alive?

The women had prepared spices and they took them to the tomb. But they found the stone had been rolled away and the tomb was empty. And then all of a sudden they were in the presence of two angels. They knew why the women had come. And they asked them why they are looking for the living among the dead. "He is not here, he has risen!" they explained.

So off they go back and told what they had seen. The apostles did not believe them. They thought it was all just about nonsense. I can imagine their thought process. Maybe they were thinking, "Silly women. They are just too emotional..." or something like that.

However, there was one that ran to the tomb to see for himself. It was Peter who had denied Jesus the night of his arrest. He wanted to see if these women really were correct. He found the tomb empty and the strips of cloth that had been around Jesus were lying there. And even seeing for himself, he seemed to be scratching his head, just not sure of what to think.

The high priest, chief priests, all of the Sanhedrin, and Jesus closet friends did not get what was really happening. There had been doubt in their minds. And probably confusion.

The story of Christ's resurrection does not end here, of course. His life on earth went on for a few weeks as he made his appearance known. What must people have thought? What were their reactions? What about those that arrested him and had actually put him on the cross? What did they think?? Perhaps we will find out in the next couple of days.

In the meantime, these people had been a part of a miracle and they didn't even realize it yet. They were witnessing an event that would go down in history for all time. What a privilege that was for them. Can they be criticized for not really believing Jesus was going to rise out of his tomb? No. They were human. You and I would probably have been skeptical too if we had been there.


Because we didn't actually see what had happened, we are just called to "believe."
By faith, we know that God sent his Son Jesus into the world to save us from our sin. That he walked the earth for some 33 years preaching the good news, He was then crucified and died a horribly painful death. After which, he was put into a tomb.

0n the third day, he came out from it! Halejuhia1 He has risen! "He is not here."

And that is what Easter is really all about! It isn't about Easter bunnies, candy, and dinners after church. It is about the Ressurection of Jesus Christ. Those other things, candy, bunnies, etc. They are fun. Some times a spiritual meaning can be applied to help children understand better about what Christ had done for us. But at the end of the day, it really is not about anything less than his Ressurection.
Today's references: Luke 24:1-12

April 14, 2019, Easter reading: Jesus said to her, "I am the resurrection and the life. The one that believes in me will live, though they die.

Hi Friends. Thanks for coming. Thank God we don't have to see Jesus crucified to have his promise of eternal life. All we have to do is admit we are sinners and ask him to come into our hearts. If you have not done that, Easter is a wonderful time to do it. Or even to recommit your life to the Lord. Don't put it off until it is too late.

God Bless

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What is Easter About?/ Jesus is Buried

After they took Jesus down from the cross, a rich man and a disciple of Jesus got permission from Pilate to have his body. And he took it and wrapped the body and placed it in his own new tomb. Then he rolled a big rock in front of it and left.

In the meantime, there were some chief priests and Pharisees that weren't so confident that Jesus was going to stay there. They remembered what he had said about rising after three days. But then they thought too that the disciples might come and steal the body, making it look like he had risen and that would make them look incredibly stupid. (My words)

And so they went to Pilate to ask him to order that the tomb be sealed and not only did Pilate do that, but also a guard would be placed there so that no one could try to get into it.

None of them understood what was going on. They had thought or at least hoped that Jesus was gone for good and life could go back to being the way it was before this fraud came along trying to say he was the Son of God.

They didn't realize that no matter how secure that tomb was, or even if there was an army guarding it, the tomb could not hold Jesus. He hadn't been born and then died for nothing. He had died for the sins of all humanity, even them, should they accept it. And there was no staying where Joseph had placed his body. No, and no one had any choice. He was coming out when he said he would.

Reading about this account this morning, it sort of made me think about my own doubt sometimes. The times I have prayed for something but doubted God loved me enough to answer it. Maybe, I didn't take the time to even pray because I knew he wouldn't anyway, so why bother. It is sort of like keeping Jesus in a tomb. Where he can't do anything because I have closed him off. I hope that makes sense. At any rate, he did come out and he did it for me. And you. And all who would dare believe on him. Thank God that no tomb can hold him from us, not when it comes to loving us. And not when it comes down to answering our prayers. And one last word on these thoughts. If Jesus had never done anymore then just died for me, and if he had never answered one prayer on my behalf, then that in itself is enough. It is just that simple.

Source: Mathew 27: 57-66

April 13, 2019 Easter Reading: For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son that whosoever believes on him, shall be saved.  John6 3:16 Thanks for coming and have a blessed day

What is Easter About?/ Good Friday

Jesus had just a few hours before, had been having supper with his friends. He had been trying to tell them what was about to happen. He had explained that one of them would sell him out. And that Peter would deny him 3 times. After supper, they went to Gethsemane where he became very troubled. He knew he was facing the very reason he was born on this earth. And it was less then a very pleasing thought now. It was causing him so much anguish that he wanted to back out. But he knew it was his Father's will to proceed and he knew he had to go through with it. 

After he was through praying, Judas and the Roman Soldiers came up. Judas had been the one to sell Jesus out as he gave him a kiss. And he did it for just 30 pieces of silver. The amount he was willing to pay for his "friends" life. But he did and now Jesus was arrested and taken before the high priest and the chief priests and  the whole Sanhedrin.looking on. 

They had been looking for anything they could use against Jesus to just get rid of him for good. The only answer that Jesus himself would give them was that he was 'the Son of the Living God' to which it was decided he was "worthy of death." 

Jesus was to be flogged and crucified. And when the soldiers had their fun mocking him and had stripped him of his clothes, they led him off to the place where he would be on display for everyone to see. Because, as they "knew" he was not really the Son of God as he claimed. What God would ever allow his Son to be humiliated like that. Jesus was just not who he claimed to be and they were going to prove it.

And Jesus hung on the cross until about evening when they made sure that he was dead. While his grief stricken mother and friends looked on. What if he wasn't really the Son of God? Had they had any real doubt? Perhaps even just an inkling? Would he really come out of that tomb as he said he would? Or did they just take it for granted that he was in there and he wasn't coming out alive?

Today's scripture references: Mathew 26:36-67, 27:11:61

April 12, 2019 Easter Reading: With a loud cry Jesus breathed his last. And the curtain in the temple was torn in two from top to bottom. When the centurion who stood in front of Jesus saw how he had died, he said "Surely, this man was the Son of God!"

Hi Friends. Jesus died a horrible death that day. In my youth I had once thought that since he was God's Son, God had to have spared him all that pain that day. That was my youthful ignorance speaking at that time in my life. It was not until later when I learned about what flogging was and what he had experienced, did it open my eyes to know that his death did not come easy or painless at all. He really had taken on not only the sin of the world but it was through the physical pain that he endured for hours before death took him. 

The Good News! is that that death did not hold him. It could not. Satan who was the instigator of the whole thing from its very beginning, did not win anything. He has truly lost it all. Even though it does not look like it now. God is not finished with him yet! We will eventually see his own finish and what a glorious day that will be! God bless your Good Friday. 

What is Easter About? The Last Supper

It was the last chance that Jesus would have to have supper with the Apostles. His disciples, His Friends. It took place on  what became known as 'Maundy Thursday' in a place called 'The Upper Room which is located in the Old city of Jerusalem. This was not to be a social gathering. It was a serious time when Jesus was going to give them some important information.  

                                                                    

Information that no doubt was probably confusing, stressful and hard to hear. As they lounged in their seats and ate the bread and drank the wine that Jesus had told them earlier in the day to go to this place and prepare the meal for them. 

It was Passover,  or the Festival of Unleavened Bread. A time when the Israelites remembered the freedom from the slavery of the Egyptians and also when the Death Angel passed over them, if there was lamb's blood on their doors, their first born sons would not be killed. 

Back in the Upper Room, Jesus began breaking bread and told them to eat it as a token of his body that was to be broken for them. And then he told them to drink of the cup as a symbol of his blood that would be spilt out for them as well. (A practice of worship today that Christians do in remembrance of him called 'Communion.'

And then Jesus told them that one of them sitting at the table would betray him and "Woe to him that does this for it would be better for him to have not been born at all. ." 

His time was drawing near. What had been written about Jesus was soon coming to fruition. How much understanding did his friends have of what was about to happen. Confusion, sadness or perhaps even a bit of depression. How much of that might have sat in as the minutes and hours ticked away. Jesus was going away. They had not understood much of that earlier. What about now. Especially upon hearing about the betrayal. Were they afraid?

No matter their understanding now, they would later get of why Jesus had to do what he did. But it would come at a grief stricken cost as they watched as death took their friend and master. And much later, it would come at their own cost. 

Reference today: Mathew 26:17-30

April 11, 2019  Easter Reading: As soon as it was morning, the chief priests held a consultation with the elders, scribes and the whole counsel,,,,Mark 15:1

Hi Friends. Today marks the very event that happened over 2000 years ago, when the Last Supper took place. What a sad time for his friends, but had they not gone through this and had they went on to have a different and perhaps a life that did not include Jesus and his teachings, you and I would be in a different place as well. Jesus death was cruel and that is no joke. But because he paid that price, you and I are free to enjoy the benefits of it. Maybe not as much in this life as we would wish. But someday, it will all come together for us. Just like it eventually did for the very people that followed him during his ministry. I pray that you go forth this day in whatever you are doing, you will remember to give thanks for those that had to go through such heartache during that time. But most of all thank Jesus for what he did to save your life. God 

bless!

What is Easter About i/ A Mystery Cleared Up

They did not understand the magnitude of what Jesus had been talking about. What did he mean when he told his disciples that  he was going away. Thomas asked him, "Lord, we don't know where you are going. So how can we know the way?" It had been confusing. A mystery. They were having a hard time 'getting it.'

Jesus had tried to comfort them..He had just told them to not be troubled. That he was going back to his Father, and would come back for them. But at first that had not been enough. Their beloved friend and master was leaving them. Where was he going.

Yes, it must have been a confusing time for these men that had spent so much time with Jesus that are now finding out that he was going to leave them. What was to come in the days that followed were no doubt some of the saddest times that they had ever lived through. Why? It was because they did not understand.

And yet, all of it had been ordained from the beginning of the world.

It is sometimes confusing to us when we think of all that happened from that time on. If God is God, where is he? Where did he come from? What and who existed before time really began?

like the disciples we don't have all the answers to our questions. There are mysteries that man does not know and are yet to be revealed to us by a holy God.

One mystery was cleared up by the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. Why had he had to go through all of that?

Because the wages of our sin is death. Romans 6:23. He had to take our punishment on himself so that instead of us spending eternity in hell, we could live forever with him in heaven. That is what the whole thing about Easter should be about to us in our hearts. Had God not loved us enough to come up with a plan in which we could escape his judgement, or if Jesus had refused to go to the cross, there would be no hope for us.

And while the disciples had eventually come to grips with losing their dear friend Jesus, because they had had to, they also eventually figured out exactly what he had been trying to tell them. They finally got it.

Many today still don't get it. It is too far out for them. And sad to say, many have passed this life only to find themselves in ever lasting darkness. For those that do get it, our hope is in the One that died for us because he loves us that much!

April 10, 2019 Easter reading:  They came again into Jerusalem. And while Jesus was was walking in the temple courts, the chief priests, the teachers of the law and the elders came to him. "By what authority are you doing these thing?" they asked. "And who gave you the authority to do this?"


Hi Friends. I am glad you are spending these days before Easter-the holiest time of the year-with me. Thanks for coming. God bless you through out this season!

What is Easter About?/ The Criminal?

They watched his every move. Every word he spoke. Hoping for some reason to put him to death. The Pharisees and the Sadducees were among those following Jesus. They didn't like this rebellious man who dared to break their law of healing on the Sabbath. Worse yet he was claiming to be God.

Jesus had never committed a crime and yet because he  would not abide by what they said, and made these outrageous claims they had him arrested and put to death.

If ever there was an innocent man, Jesus was he.

But it had been no surprise when he got his death sentence. Did he look forward to his crucifixion? Of course not. But he knew it was the only way to save the world from it's sin. He did it for you and I.

As fun as this time of the season is, what with Easter eggs and bunnies, what Jesus had gone through was not pretty. And it was not fun.

And our remembrance of that event over 2000 years ago should never be far from our minds all year round as well as at this time. And actually, no matter what we are doing or how things are going, the death and Resurrection of our Lord should always be at the forefront of every thing we think and do.

So enjoy those fun things of the season. Create memories with your kids. Enjoy a wonderful meal on Easter with your family and friends. And in the mean time never forget that with out the cross of Jesus we would have had no hope.

Scripture: Mathew 15: 9  John 5:18

April 9, 2019 Easter reading: "Blessed is the coming of the kingdom of our father David." " Hosanna in the highest heaven." Like 11:10

I am glad you came by Friends! God Bless!

What is Easter About/ 8Day Walk With Christ

8 Day Walk With Christ

A few minutes ago I ran across something very new to me but I wanted to pass it on to you. It is called 'The 8 Day Walk With Christ.' The idea is to have a .chance to get closer to Jesus Christ. What a wonderful idea for this season of celebration of his Ressurrection.

It take but a few minutes each day for those that are interested. I am sorry that I can't copy the web address for you at this time. However, you can of course put it in your search engine to find it. It looks very interesting so I encourage you to check it out.



April 8, 2019 Easter reading: And they that went before and they that followed cried "Hosanna, blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord!"  Mark 11:9

Thank for coming by Friends! Have a blessed day!