The old alarm clock signaled that it is time to rise up and face the morning. I found my glasses and my mug of Door County Peanut Butter Crunch Coffee and I will begin to write now that I can see.
Easter is almost here and as many people are doing we too our planning our Easter weekend which includes a dinner and fellowship. But as we arrive to the weekend it is also time to put Easter in perspective and treat it as it should be. I have already purchased a ham for dinner and without Jesus in Easter, it is just a good dinner, nothing more.
Easter week is a time that we celebrate the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ my personal Lord and Savior. Jesus paid the price on the cross for our sins, my sins. It is very personal to me. He left heaven on a mission to save lost souls from eternity in hell and He saw it through from the beginning to the end. So for this next few days I will look into the Easter week and try to lead us to a level of somber reflection and joy.
First off the suffering, death, burial and resurrection is God's plan to redeem lost souls. It is a free gift and not forced on anyone. It is a gift of love, that Jesus willingly suffered for our transgressions that we would not have to.
John 3:16 New International Version (NIV)
16 For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.
Romans 5:7-9 New International Version (NIV)
7 Very rarely will anyone die for a righteous person, though for a good person someone might possibly dare to die. 8 But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.
9 Since we have now been justified by his blood, how much more shall we be saved from God’s wrath through him!
Now we have established the plan of salvation. Jesus is the Way The Truth And The Life!
Let's take a look at what led up to Easter. Jesus was betrayed by a friend who Satan had entered into. We see possession by evil take place. Judas an apostle of Jesus was possessed by Satan. I believe that Satan entered a heart that had made room for evil. Judas was the keeper of the money and greed got the best of Him. Satan found a heart open to evil and made a home there.
Luke 22 New International Version (NIV)
Judas Agrees to Betray Jesus
22 Now the Festival of Unleavened Bread, called the Passover, was approaching, 2 and the chief priests and the teachers of the law were looking for some way to get rid of Jesus, for they were afraid of the people. 3 Then Satan entered Judas, called Iscariot, one of the Twelve. 4 And Judas went to the chief priests and the officers of the temple guard and discussed with them how he might betray Jesus. 5 They were delighted and agreed to give him money. 6 He consented, and watched for an opportunity to hand Jesus over to them when no crowd was present.
No one likes to be betrayed by a friend. Yet that hurt and pain was not enough to stop Jesus from completing His mission of love. For many of us, we will experience betrayal this week or have been betrayed lately. It might be our health, our family, our government ,who we feel or know has betrayed us. And we most likely would say that supporting them or loving them is just now worth it. Jesus did not see it that way. His love for the Father and us kept Him from quitting even though He was betrayed at the start by a friend. He was ready to take on evil and He started the battle against evil with Love. Have you made a home for any evil in your heart? We will look at more this week as we prepare for Easter. Hang with me and share the posts with those who might need an Easter push.
God bless.
Marty
Amen!
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