Expectant for Easter

     The beautiful season of Easter is with us once again. 

     
     As a young child, I waited expectantly for Easter, as it seemed to usher in sunny, warmer days, hinting of spring after a long and sometimes harsh winter.

     Attending Easter services at our country church was always on our family’s priority list. 

  
     A new spring outfit was a must, if finances allowed, complete with a colourful, matching hat and gloves, then very much in vogue. 

     The day began with us kids challenging each other at breakfast, to see who could eat the most eggs, cooked in various ways. 

     Our own flock of hens did their diligence the week previous, as they regularly supplied our needs. 

     The chocolate, creamed-filled eggs were scarce at our house, but I don’t recall even missing them. 

     Over the years, Easter and its significance has become increasingly more meaningful to me. 

     I always feel I need to pause, and in my thoughts, consider the events of that first Good Friday before skipping to the triumphal Sunday. 

     As a child, I was somewhat bewildered as to why that awful day was called “good.” 

     Later, I began to understand that God allowed His perfect Son to die for the sake of every wrong thing I have ever done, said, or thought. 

     He did it to save me from the death I deserve. 
     
     I recall my dad reading the Bible to me from Romans 6:23  — “For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.” 

     From the time sin entered that perfect world in the Garden of Eden, a God who hates sin, had to devise a plan. My dad reminded me I was part of that plan and to embrace the gift. 

     So, yes, Good Friday was necessary and lives up to its name. I began to understand. Though I cringe each time I visit in my mind Jesus’ agony hanging there on that awful cross, I say,"What an awesome, loving, unselfish act!" 

     As we study the most popular religions of the world, we become aware that no provision is made for the forgiveness of sins apart from Jesus Christ. A centurion who witnessed Jesus’ death declared, “Surely this man was the Son of God!” 

     I hope many skeptics this Easter will stop to examine the evidence concerning Jesus Christ as the Son of God. The change that has taken place in people’s lives who believe in Jesus, is undebatable and proof in itself. 

     Consider these words of Bill Bright — “I have yet to meet a person who has honestly considered the overwhelming evidence concerning Jesus of Nazareth who does not admit that He is the Son of God."        

     

     I am beginning my fifth consecutive year of posting on my blog, having begun this adventure in March, 2013. 

     The last blog post was my 200th. 

     I consider it a privilege to regularly post an assortment of my thoughts, be they — memories of my past, views on various subjects, ideas, comments on current events, my daily or weekly ministry experiences, or family happenings.  

     

     I'm so grateful for my editor-son, Dave, with his photographer’s eye and journalist abilities, faithfully helping to present my stories in an eye-catching and readable way. 

     I hope to continue blogging until my "manager" tells me otherwise. A big thank you to all my faithful readers.  

     Some reflections on Easter...."He is not here; He is risen, just as He said."  — Matthew 28:6     

     "Our Lord has written the promise of the resurrection, not in books alone, but in every leaf in springtime." 

— Martin Luther   

     Jesus said to Martha, "I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me will live, even though he dies; and whoever lives and believes in me will never die. Do you believe this?"   

     Springtime, bringing its promise of new life, seems the appropriate time to celebrate Easter with all its beauty and meaning. 

     Why is it that one billion Christians around the world still gather to mark the event that happened 2000 years ago? 

     What we celebrate at Easter is the foundation of our christian faith — the day Christ rose from the dead, confirming our belief that — "because He lives, we shall live also." 

     Someone likened Easter to a wake-up call, to a beautiful day and a wonderful way of life, but we need to ask ourselves whether Christ is now living in us.  

     "Let every man and woman count himself immortal. Let him catch the revelation of Jesus in his resurrection. Let him say not merely, 'Christ is risen' but, 'I shall rise.'"  

— Phillips Brooke  

     Recently, my pastor closed his sermon with the following, known as the Apostles' Creed — a concise summary of christian beliefs widely used in many christian churches.  

     Note: It is called "Apostles' Creed," but not because the apostles wrote it. Churches in many different regions were involved in its development. 

     Also, the word "catholic" means "worldwide" or "universal." 

     Knowing what we believe about God, makes us stronger in our faith. 


What does the Creed say?  

     I believe in God, the Father almighty, creator of heaven and earth; I believe in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord. He was  conceived by the power of the Holy Spirit and born of the Virgin Mary. He suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died, and was buried. He descended to the dead. On the third day he rose again. He ascended into heaven, and is seated at the right hand of the Father. He will come again to judge the living and the dead. I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy catholic church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting. Amen.         

"We live and die; Christ died and lived!"  — John Stott

— beulah