Easter Service
Easter or Resurrection Sunday is the most important day celebrated in the Christian calendar. Now you may ask yourself the question, “what is it, that makes this specific day any different from another?”
Let me explain. Resurrection Sunday is the day that Jesus, the Son of God, rose from the dead.Now I completely understand that to some, this may seem totally impossible, but the evidence is indisputable. Let’s put that statement aside for just a minute, and take a deeper look at the “why” first. Why did Jesus die on the cross in the first place?
We are all sinners, and have come short because of the selfish condition of man, and need help.
I don’t think that there is any doubt, the motivation is undoubtedly selfless, and can be summed up in one word, LOVE. Yes, that is correct, the only reason that God would have made this unfathomable sacrifice for you and me, is His motivation of love towards each and every one of us. To save us from our fallen selfishness.
John 15:13 (NKJV)
13”Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one’s life for his friends.”
God sent His son to die on the cross so that man could be saved and have relationship with Him, and very importantly, eternal life. Now having said that, I want you to understand that the life Jesus lived, goes so much further than His death and resurrection, it also encompasses the way that He lived His life.
Jesus lived a life that was completely selfless. He said:
John 6:38 (NKJV)
38For I have come down from heaven, not to do My own will, but the will of Him who sent Me.
Can you imagine living on earth totally dedicated to a mission to save all of mankind. Being motivated to live in a way that is so selfless, and knowing that at the end, after living a life dedicated to saving those that you love, you are going to be mocked, spat on and rejected, and ultimately die one of the cruelest deaths ever experienced by mankind.
In the end, Jesus went willingly to the cross to take away the sins of the world. A sinless perfect man. It always amazes me, that while He was on the cross, He cried out to the Father, “It is finished.” Father I have done what you asked me to do. I have lived and died for our people. Wow! As I said earlier this is pure love. The bible says this:
John 3:16–17 (NKJV)
16For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.
17For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved.
It is heart breaking for me that sometimes, people have this image of God, as a mean God in the sky who wants to smite and punish man with lots of rules that are impossible to follow. Nothing could be further from the truth of His likeness and character. God is love and He has done nothing short of proving His love for us, by giving us all that He can. This is so evident and perfectly displayed in the death and resurrection of Jesus.
I stand in awe of God, His love and His kindness. I find complete comfort in knowing that He loves us so much, that He sent Jesus to save us. Now, all I want to do, is love Him and serve Him because He is so good, and He loved me first.
Every year at Easter churches fill up with people, men and woman, taking a moment to pause and remember, reflecting on the death and resurrection of Jesus.
I want to challenge you to stop for a moment, and just think about it, there is truly no greater love than this. People have given their lives before, for the ones they love, but to think that God pre-planned this, sending Jesus already knowing He would be put to death for us, is truly remarkable.A love that is incomparable. What is most exciting, is that Jesus died for ALL of us, and that includes you! If you do not know Him, you are missing out on the greatest relationship life can ever offer. Make a decision today, to follow Him and have a real relationship with Him, you will never regret it!
What a friend I have in Jesus.
