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EASTER, like Christmas, is a special time of year. Even people who don't regularly go to church frequently will attend an Easter service with their kids. This holiday occurs in the spring, when new life is budding and the earth is waking up from the days of winter.
HOPE and FRESH SHARTS fill the air! In the midst of blooming trees and newly born animals, we have an excellent opportunity to point to Jesus, the Rescuer - who came to end death and make all things new.
“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 …” And he who was seated on the throne said, “Behold, I am making all things new.” Revelation 21:3-5
EASTER and NEW LIFE
Sometimes we forget why Jesus coming back to life is such an earth-shattering event. In my faith tradition as a child, a heavy emphasis was placed on Jesus' death. I was taught that He died in my place, for my sin, so that I could be saved and then go to heaven when I die; but a disconnect existed between being saved NOW and MY FUTURE LIFE
in heaven.
What was I supposed to do in the meantime? I thought the interim consisted of me proving that I was a good enough Christian (by praying, reading my Bible, going to church, avoiding drugs and alcohol, evangelizing, etc.). I also thought I needed to obey the rules and try to keep God happy with me.
I knew that Jesus came back to life on Easter, but that detail seemed peripheral - almost like a happy ending to an otherwise tragic story. I eventually realized that something INCREDIBLE HAPPENED when Jesus stepped out of that tomb.
He definitively CONQUERED evil and death. He HEALED the impassable breach that existed between not only God and man, but man and man - as well as man and all of creation.
This rescue didn't depend on me or my actions it rested fully on Jesus.
I still remember the sense of relief and peace I felt when I understood that Jesus would make ALL things (including me) right; it wasn't up to me!
Article by Laura Richie, Ministry Resources
Jesus said unto her, "I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in me though he dies, yet shall he live, and everyone who lies and believes in me shall never die. Do you believe this? John 11:25-26
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